10 experts' names given to HC for law review

Five rights organisations yesterday submitted a list of 10 persons to the High Court to help form an expert committee to review the existing laws for prevention of sexual harassment and violence against women following its order over the gang rape of a Garo woman in a microbus in the capital.  

The 10 persons are-- former HC judge Awlad Ali, executive director of Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) Sultana Kamal, member of National Human Rights Commission Nirupa Dewan, former chairperson of Bangladesh Cedaw committee to the UN Salma Khan, president of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad Ayesha Khanam, former IGP Dr M Enamul Haque, Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association President Fawzia Karim Feroze, founding member of Nari Pakkha Shirin Haque, director of Human Rights and Legal Aid Services of BRAC Faustina Pereira, and former chairman of Human Rights and Legal Aid Committee of Bangladesh Bar Council ZI Khan Panna.

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The five organisations--Nari Pakkha, Mahila Parishad, Jatiya Adibasi Parishad, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, and ASK-- placed the list as per its May 25 order. The organisations filed a writ petition with the HC seeking orders over the gang-rape incident of May 21.

After receiving the list from their lawyer Sara Hossain, the HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo fixed June 14 for passing an order. 

According to media reports, police wasted time in recording complaints of the Garo woman and sending her to a victim-support centre.

Following the petition, the HC on May 25 ordered the government to make sure police accept rape complaints instantly and provide necessary services to complainants without discrimination.