The High Court, in its full verdict over a writ petition, has said that a case over rape, sexual harassment or any other such incidents can be filed with any police station, no matter whether the incident takes place under its jurisdiction or not, and asked the officers-in-charge of all the police stations to record such cases with any delay.. In a full copy of the High Court verdict released recently, it also made the Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) test compulsory in rape case and ordered the authorities concerned to send sampled to laboratories within 48 hours of filing of a case.

The HC bench comprising Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akando delivered the verdict in 2016 after disposing of a public interest litigation writ petition jointly filed by five human rights organisations. Advocate Sharmin Akter, one of the counsel for the petitioners yesterday confirmed about publishing the order that gave 18 points guidelines including, information and evidences of rape and other sexual assault should be filed up by the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the concerned police station.

Police must hand over information to the victim support centre just after getting evidences, according to the verdict.

The verdict reads that an independent website should be launched for such kinds of information so that victim can register allegation online. Identities of all the victims must be concealed. A list of social workers should be made to help the rape victims.

Every police station must keep a policewoman who will take the victim for health check-up and each police station must make a list of female social workers who will provide the victims with mental help and support.

Besides, the HC also ordered to set up an office in every Metropolitan area for assuring security, treatment, DNA test and counselling to the rape victims.

The HC verdict directed the respondents to follow the guidelines strictly until a law was enacted in this regard. It also asked the office of Supreme Court Registrar General to send the verdict’s copies to the ministries of law, children and women affairs and home as well as the inspector general of police for taking necessary steps for the enforcement of the guidelines and take steps for formulating a policy based on its recommendations, directives and observations. The writ was filed following the rape of a Garo girl on May 21 of 2015, who was picked up from the city’s Kuril area and raped in a running car.

The victim and her family faced immense harassment while filing a case over the incident.

At 4 am that night, they went to Turag Police Station where police refused to record any case as the incident happened in different areas. Then they went to Gulshan Police Station around 5 am where police told them the same.

Finally, they went to Bhatara Police Station around 6:30 am where the officer-in-charge (OC) was absent. They had to wait until 9:30 am when the OC came and finally the case was filed around 12:30 pm. The victim was sent to hospital for medical test a day later.  The writ petition was jointly filed by the Naripokkho, Bangladesh Mohila Parishad, Jatiya Adivasi Parishad, Ain o Salish Kendra and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust.

After hearing the writ petition, the court issued a rule on May 25, 2015.

Later on February 18 in 2016, the HC delivered the short order after disposing of the writ petition, which was released recently issuing 18 point directives over the rape incident.

The full text of the verdict was released on April 22 last, almost two years after the short verdict.