HC rule on compensating Kishoreganj, Rajshahi rape victims

The High Court today issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain in four weeks why they should not be directed to give Tk 50 lakh each to the families of Shahinur Akhter Tania and Sumaiya Akhter who were raped and died in Kishoreganj and Rajshahi last month.

Shahinur Akhter Tania from Kishoreganj died after being gang-raped on May 8 while Sumaiya Akhter committed suicide on May 17 after being gang-raped in Rajshahi.

In the rule, the court also asked the government to show cause why they should not be directed to frame an interim compensation scheme for the rehabilitation of the rape victims.

The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Md Khairul Alam came up with the rule following a writ petition filed by rights organisation Children's Charity Bangladesh Foundation seeking necessary order to this effect.

Barrister Md Abdul Halim appeared for the writ petitioner.

A dozens of entities, including Secretaries to Ministry of Home Affairs, Children and Women Affairs, Health and Family Planning and Roads and Highways, were made the respondents to the rule.