The High Court on Sunday directed the inspector general of police to submit a progress report within 15 days on the investigation into the reported rape of a housewife in Muradnagar, Cumilla.
The bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Sayed Jahed Mansur passed the order after hearing a public interest writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Mir AKM Nurunnabi, seeking urgent state intervention and protection for the victim.
The petition was filed along with a newspaper clipping of a Prothom Alo report titled, ‘Case filed over alleged rape of a woman after breaking into a home on Sunday.’
The court fixed July 14 for the next hearing and issued a set of directives focusing on the victim’s safety, privacy and justice.
The court asked the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police in Cumilla to ensure her adequate security and access to medical care.
Addressing the violation of the victim’s right to privacy and dignity, the court directed the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission to remove within 24 hours any video clips of the incident that had been circulating on social media platforms.
The court also issued a rule asking government authorities to explain why the disclosure of the victim’s identity and the viral sharing of the incident online should not be declared illegal and unconstitutional.
Lawyer Nurunnabi condemned the dissemination of such content, calling it a serious violation of human rights and a secondary form of trauma for survivors.
Deputy attorney general Tanim Khan and Shafiqul Islam, and assistant attorney general Ikramul Kabir, appeared for the state and supported the High Court’s rule.