Bangladesh follows a 150-year-old definition of rape given in the Penal Code, 1860, which happens to be a colonial holdover. Section 375 of the Penal Code defines rape along this line: A man is said to commit 'rape' who, has sexual intercourse with a woman under circumstances falling under any of the five situations. The Code restrictively defines rape to mean only penile-vaginal penetration, even though rape, in real life, may include an array of violent actions, including, but not limited to penile-vaginal penetration.
The Penal Code also states that penetration is sufficient to constitute sexual intercourse which is a necessary element of the offence of rape.