, March 8 -- State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Sunday said perpetrators of violence against women have no political identity, asserting that the government will ensure justice under existing laws regardless of the offender's political affiliation.

"Whenever the question of bringing a rapist to justice arises, there is often an attempt to attach a political identity to the accused. The BNP government believes that a rapist does not belong to any political party. He has only one identity-he is a criminal," Shama Obaed said at a programme organised at the National Press Club marking International Women's Day.

She said the government remains committed to ensuring women's empowerment and gender equality, adding that ste...