The Supreme Court has issued a circular stating that from now onwards only female magistrates will record statements of the women and children who have faced sexual assault or have been raped .
The circular-- signed by Supreme Court Registrar Dr Md Zakir Hossain-- was published on Monday (Apr 15), said a High Court official Md Saifur Rahman.
It said that the Special Committee for Judicial Reforms has learned that in many cases, testimonies of rape or other sexual assault victim children and women are being recorded by male magistrates. Women or children rape or other sexual assault victims hesitate to narrate their ordeal to a male magistrate.

Considering the circumstances, it is necessary to appoint a female magistrate in recording the testimony of rape and sexually harassed woman and children, the circular added.

The circular also said in absence of female magistrate, the authorities should send the victims to a proper magistrate to record testimony.