HC bars media from publishing photos, identities of rape victims
The court also issued a ruling asking the authorities concerned to respond within four weeks
The High Court (HC), on Monday, issued a ban on the media publishing or broadcasting the photos and identities of rape victims, even after the victim's death.
A bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice SM Moniruzzaman passed the order on Monday after hearing a writ petition.
The court also issued a ruling asking the authorities concerned of the government to show causes as to why their inaction and failure to stop disclosing the photos and identities of rape victims should not be declared illegal.
Secretaries of the home, law and information ministries – along with the Bangladesh Press Council and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha – were asked to implement this order expeditiously.
Defendants have been asked to respond to the ruling within four weeks.
Barrister Mahfuzur Rahman Milon moved for the writ petition while Deputy Attorney General Samarendra Nath Biswas represented the state.
Earlier on 19 January, Justice Watch Foundation filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking its order to restrain the media from publishing and broadcasting the identities of rape victims.
Barrister Mahfuzur Rahman Milon said despite the law prohibiting the publication of photos of raped women and children, various media outlets have been publishing photos of raped women or children. With that family members of the victims are being disgraced socially.
"Particularly, most of the media have published photos of an English medium school student who died recently after being raped. Upset with this incident, we filed this writ petition," he added.
Earlier, an English daily published photo of a child rape victim. A lawyer filed a writ petition challenging the legality of publishing the photo. Following the writ petition, the High Court prohibited publishing the photo or identity of any child rape victim.