The High Court yesterday sought explanation from the police for delaying to register a case over the gang rape of an indigenous woman in the capital on May 21.
The bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo also asked the police and the government to explain as to why the girl should not be compensated for the delay in recording the case.
The court ordered the government to make sure that the police accept any rape complaint and serve all victims without any discrimination in the future.
The home secretary, police chief and DMP commissioner were ordered to issue a circular to the police stations to ensure discrimination-free service for all citizens without considering their religion, gender, caste or place of birth. They were also asked to submit a compliance report by a month.
The directives come in response to a writ petition filed by five human rights organisations – Naripakkha, Bangladesh Mohila Parishad, National Indigenous Council, Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) and BLAST.
The court took into consideration media reports that said the gang rape victim was not given proper attention at three police stations she and her family members had gone to file the case on Friday.
The court asked the authorities concerned to explain as to why action should not be taken against the responsible police members for “negligence.” It also asked for explanation by two weeks on why the delay of police in recording the first information report (FIR) should not be declared illegal.
The home secretary, IGP, DMP commissioner, OCs of Uttara, Khilkhet, Gulshan and Bhatara police stations and the officer-on-duty at Bhatara police station were made respondents in the rule.
The petitioners were asked to submit a list of former judges, lawyers and women rights activists who will review the existing laws to curb sexual violence and harassment by May 31.
The High Court bench set June 14 for further hearing on the matter.
BLAST Executive Director Sara Hossain and two other lawyers stood for the petitioners while Deputy Attorney General Amatul Karim and Assistant Attorney General Nusrat Jahan represented the state.
Around 9:30pm on May 21, the victim was forced into a microbus near Jamuna Future Park at gunpoint when she was waiting for transport to return home from work. Five youths gang raped her in the moving microbus and left him near Jasim Uddin Road in Uttara.
The victim along with elder sister first went to Turag police station to file a case as their residence was within its jurisdiction. But the police did not record the case saying that the place of rape was not within their jurisdiction. Around 5am, they went to Gulshan police station and were refused by officials who gave the same reason.
After around one and a half hours, they went to Bhatara police station but they were kept waiting for the officer-in-charge to come. The OC came to the station after three hours and recorded the case around 12:30pm Friday.
