Remove videos, photos of Muradnagar rape incident from internet: HC orders govt

The High Court today ordered the authorities concerned of the government to remove video and audio clips, and photos of Cumilla's Muradnagar rape incident from all social media platforms and the internet in 24 hours.

The court also directed the authorities concerned to ensure safety and security of the victim and asked to submit a report after complying with the directives in 15 days.

Additionally, the HC issued a rule asking the respondents why their failure to prevent the victim's identity, video and audio from being revealed on the social media should not be declared illegal, Deputy Attorneys General Md Shafiqur Rahman and Tanim Khan told The Daily Star.

It also set July 14 for further hearing and passing order on this issue.

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Officials concerned of the government including secretaries, the inspector general of police, chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication and Regulatory Commission and superintendent of Cumilla police have been made respondents to the rule, DAG Tanim said.

The HC bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Sayed Jahed Mansur came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Mir AKM Nurun Noby.

Earlier in the day, the lawyer submitted the writ petition as a public interest litigation to the HC to order the respondents to form a committee to conduct a judicial inquiry into the incident of rape and to provide adequate treatment to the victim and Tk 5 crore as compensation.

DAG Shafiqur told the court that a case has been lodged over the incident and five accused have already been arrested.