The Bangladesh High Court has banned the controversial two-finger test conducted for rape victims.
The order came on Thursday after the court disposed of a writ filed on the issue five years ago.
The court said authorities must follow the health care protocol, which the government adopted last year in line with the World Health Organisation’s regulations.
It also said the presence of female doctors, nurses, police officers and forensic experts has to be ensured when a rape victim undergoes medical examination.
The bench of Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore and Justice AKM Shahidul Huq said in its ruling that the so-called test has no scientific or legal merit.
It also instructed the government to issue a circular to lower court judges and investigation officers on the order.
Rights activists have been calling for long to ban the test, which they say is irrational and that it amounts to a second rape of the victim.
In 2013, six rights bodies — Ain o Salish Kendra, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, BRAC, Manusher Jonno Foundation and Nari Paksha — and two rape victims filed a petition with the High Court.
After an initial hearing, the court issued a rule ordering the secretaries to the ministries of health and home to respond.
The health secretary was also instructed to form a panel to formulate regulations regarding physical examination of rape victims.
The court had then ordered the submission of a draft regulation by three months.
Following the court’s order, the government formulated the Health Care Protocol.
On Thursday, the court disposed of its rule on the issue and banned the controversial two-finger test.