HC Orders Removal of 8-Year-Old Victim’s Images from All Media, Including Social Platforms

The High Court has instructed the removal of all images of a child rape victim from every form of media, including social media platforms. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has been ordered to implement this directive immediately, ensuring it is carried out by 12 p.m. today, March 9. The directive was issued by a bench consisting of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury this morning.

The issue came to the court’s attention through a newspaper report submitted by Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Syed Mahsib Hossain. He raised concerns about the child rape victim from Magura and requested the court to take necessary actions to safeguard the child’s health. Barrister Hossain informed The Business Standard (TBS) that the victim’s elder sister had been raped by her brother-in-law at the age of 14 and was later married off to him. Furthermore, the eight-year-old victim had been sexually assaulted by both her sister’s father-in-law and her brother-in-law.

Barrister Hossain criticized the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs for its failure to address such cases and take responsibility for the protection of victims. He presented the news report to the court, demanding accountability from the Ministry and urging the government to ensure the child’s health and safety. In response, the court issued an immediate order to remove all images of the child, with the promise of making decisions on other related matters by noon today.