The High Court yesterday ordered the government to form a commission to prevent the rape incident across the country. The HC bench asked the government to form the commission after taking representatives from judges, prominent human rights members, journalists, lawyers, doctors and others within 30 days. It also asked the committee to submit recommendations before it by 6 months on ways to prevent rape incidents in the country.

In response to a writ petition, the HC bench comprising Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Quamrul Kader came up with the directives. It also issued a rule asking the government to explain in four weeks why its inaction to formulate a law keeping the provision of death penalties for the offenders on charges of raping children under age of 16 should not be declared illegal. Barrister Rabeya Bhuiyan filed the writ petition with the HC recently seeking its directive over the matter.

Another bench of the High Court has directed the government to form an expert committee for providing and determining the process and feasibility of importing various anti-rape safety devices. In response to a writ petition, the HC bench comprising Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman passed the order. The court said, the devices will be connected to emergency helpline 999 while any criminal is trying to rape any women, notification can be sent.  Some of these anti-rape devices are wearables allowing users to send alerts to predetermined friends, family or an emergency number without using their phones. Some of the safety devices can identify/take photo of the rape offenders and also provide the GPS location.

The HC bench asked the authorities concerned to form the committee headed by secretary of Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), keeping members from ICT department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).

It also asked the committee to submit its report within 60 days. The HC bench also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain in four weeks why they should not be directed to provide safety and security to women and girls against incidents of rape, stalking and sexual assault at public places across the country.

Rights Organisation Children’s Charity Foundation Bangladesh and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust  filed the writ petition with the HC on January 12 seeking necessary orders in this regard.

IK