High court’s order that the DNA of a victim of abuse has to be tested within 48 hours has not seen any real initiatives as yet. Women leaders say that in addition to such orders, there must be comprehensive sensitivity training.
Court directives say that in cases of rape or sexual abuse, the officer on duty of a thana will immediately record a complaint, whether the incident took place within the jurisdiction of the police station’s area or not.
OC’s of thanas say that the crime should be recorded in the thana under which it was committed, if the incident is far away from the victim’s residence, a statement can be taken and then sent to the respective thana.
OC of Doulatpur thana, Kazi Mostak Ahmed, says: “The case should be lodged under the thana which has the jurisdiction, in other cases where a crime has been committed against a person outside her own thana, we can take a statement and forward it to the responsible police station.”
Despite high court directives, no effort was taken to formulate any guideline for rape as yet.
Women’s rights activist, Fouzia Khandaker, said: We are working on issues that are gender sensitive and while there has been talk of training, the reality is different.”
Changes can come if the high court order is sent to the thanas, she feels.
High court directive also states that if a police officer delays in taking complaint there has to be a specific clause to ensure punitive measures against the officer.
Every thana should have a woman police member who will record the complaint at the presence of social workers, lawyers and family members of the abused.
The directives also state that information about the victim has to be preserved confidentially and a list made of social workers, who will be able to provide counseling to the victim.