Staff Reporter :
The High Court (HC) on Thursday issued a rule asking the government to explain why a taskforce should not be formed to oversee the violation of human rights by the law enforcers in the country.
In the rule, the court also asked the government to explain as to why it should not be directed to adopt a guideline or a policy to restore the people’s confidence in the law enforcement agencies.
The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akanda passed the rule after hearing on a writ petition, filed by Advocate Salma Ali, the Executive Director of Bangladesh National Women Lawyer Association (BNWLA).
The petition was submitted following the allegations of police’s atrocities against a group of students who staged a demonstration in front of DMP Commissioner’s office on May 10, demanding the arrest of culprits involved in the sexual harassment against the women on the Dhaka University Campus during Pahela Baishakh celebrations.
Some unruly young people sexually harassed the girls and women near the TSC of Dhaka University during Pahela Baishakh celebrations on April 14. Despite having video footages of the incidents, police are yet to capture any of the assailants, sparking widespread criticism about its sincerity to arrest the criminals.
The Home Secretary, Inspector General of Police, DMP Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka were made respondents in the rule. They were given four weeks time to give their replies.
Earlier, another HC bench issued a rule upon the police on May 12, asking them to submit a report before it by June 14 on the actions they had taken against the responsible policemen involved in the assaults against demonstrators.
