The High Court has asked for an explanation from the police personnel concerned for their delay in filing a case over Thursday's gang-rape of a Garo woman.
An HC bench comprising of Justices Farah Mahbub and Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo Monday issued two separate rulings, responding to a writ petition filed by five human rights organisations – Naripakkha, Mahila Parishad, National Indigenous Council, Ain O Shalish Kendra (ASK) and BLAST.
In the rulings, the HC asked the authorities concerned to explain within two weeks why the delay by police in recording the first information report (FIR) of the victim would not be declared illegal.
The home secretary, IGP, DMP commissioner, OCs of Uttara, Khilkhet, Gulshan and Vatara police stations and the duty officer of Vatara police station were made respondents of the ruling.
The court also asked why legal action should not be taken against the responsible policemen for negligence, and why the woman should not be paid compensation for the delay in processing the case.
It also ordered the government to make sure the police accept any rape complaint and give services to all victims without discrimination in the future, saying that Thursday's incident did not get proper police attention.
The home secretary, IGP and DMP commissioner were also asked to issue a circular to the police stations to ensure discrimination-free service for all, without regard for religion, gender, caste or place of birth.
The defendants have been asked to submit a compliance report in this regard within four weeks.
The petitioners have also been asked to suggest a list of names to form a panel comprising of former judges, lawyers and women rights activists to review the existing laws for bringing down sexual violence.
They were asked to submit their nominations by May 31.
Sarah Hossain moved for the petitioners along with two other lawyers while Deputy-Attorney General Amatul Karim and Assistant-Attorney General Nusrat Jahan represented the state.
Five unknown criminals forcefully took the 21-year-old Garo woman inside a grey-coloured microbus while she was waiting at the Biswa Road bus stand for a bus.
The criminals, including the driver of the microbus, violated her on the running vehicle and threw her out of it in Uttara.
The victim along with her elder sister went to Turag police station to file a rape case the same night as their residence was within its jurisdiction.
But, the police did not record the case as the place of rape was not within their jurisdiction.
Later, they went to Gulshan police station at around 5am and police showed the same excuse.
Finally, the OC of Vatara police station recorded the case at around 12:30pm Friday, hours after they contacted the police.
The court is set to hear the rulings on June 14.
