Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Tuesday observed, if the law enforcement agencies make separate statements on the same incident during the investigation period, it may create confusion among people even though the facts are unearthed later.
So, in the interest of proper investigation of a case various statements by different law enforcement agencies are unexpected, it also observed. The High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman passed the observation while hearing a writ petition filed seeking HC directions for a judicial inquiry into the alleged gang-rape of a tourist in Cox’s Bazar on December 22 in 2021.
The HC bench also said the law enforcement agencies can extend cooperation to each other in respect of dealing with the cases, arrest of accused and investigation. It is better if they issue less number of statements, it said.
The bench asked Deputy Attorney General Bepul Bagmar to talk to the law enforcement agencies to this effect and kept the writ petition stand over (waiting for further hearing) until the investigation into the incident is completed.
Abdullah Al Harun Bhuiyan Russell, a Supreme Court lawyer, submitted the petition as a public interest litigation to the HC on Sunday requesting it to pass necessary order for taking appropriate action against those responsible for the incident.
During the hearing the lawyer said, “The statements of the tourist police and the RAB are inconsistent regarding the gang-rape in Cox’s Bazar. They have issued different statements by different news outlets. This has created one kind of inconsistency. Moreover, the investigation will not be acceptable due to such self-contradictory statements. Common people may lose their confidence in them as well.”
He also submitted, “It seems that the law enforcers have made a bet for establishing the character of the victim woman as what they like. As a result, the investigation report will lose credibility. That is why I am seeking directions for a judicial inquiry into the incident of December 22.”
Then the senior judge of the HC bench Justice M Enayetur Rahim said, “An investigation has been initiated already. Shall we order for conducting another inquiry in the meantime?”
At that time the court observed that in the interest of proper investigation of a case, different statements by different law enforcement agencies are unexpected.
If the law enforcement agencies issue separate statements on the same incident during the investigation period, it may create confusion among people even though the facts are unearthed later, it also observed.
On the night of 22 December, a woman who claimed to be a tourist alleged that a miscreant named Ashik picked her up from the city and gang-raped her with his companions.
That night RAB conducted a raid and rescued the victim from Hotel Zia Guest Inn in Cox’s Bazar. RAB arrested hotel manager Chhotan on the basis of the complaint.
The next day, the husband of the victim filed a case against seven people. The case is being investigated by the tourist police. So far six people have been arrested in connection with this case including the prime accused Ashik.
