The High Court on Tuesday said the law enforcement agencies should refrain from making contradictory statements on the alleged gang rape of a female tourist in Cox’s Bazar in the interest of fair investigation.
Such statements during the investigation into the case are undesirable, said the HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman while hearing a writ petition seeking judicial probe into the incident that occurred on December 24.
The bench observed that even when truth is revealed people think differently because of such statements from different departments of law enforcement force.
The HC kept the writ ‘stand over’ and asked the deputy attorney general Bipul Bagmar to convey to the law enforcement agencies its message that they should refrain from providing different statements.
“The law enforcement agencies can cooperate with each other in the interest of investigation but it would be better if the investigative officer keep mum about any cases during the investigation,” said HC.
It also said that the journalists will seek information as part of their job and that’s why they can’t be blamed.
Filing the writ on Monday Advocate Abdullah Al Harun Bhuiya Russel said “The statements of Rab and police are inconsistent and they gave different statements before the media. That’s why a judicial investigation is sought in the case.”
The writ also sought a rule seeking directives of proper legal steps against the culprits involved in the crime.
Secretaries to the home ministry, civil aviation and tourism ministry, Inspector General of Police, deputy commissioner of Cox’s Bazar and Superintendent of Police were made respondents to the rule.
On the night of December 22 a gang led by its leader Ashik abducted the woman and allegedly raped her in two places of the resort town.
Law enforcement agencies have since then arrested Ashik and five others in the case even if the investigation is going on.
Source: United News of Bangladesh