PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (PIL)

Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST)

1. Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs;

2. Secretary, Ministry of Women’s and Children’s Affairs;

3. Officer in Charge Cantonment PS, Dhaka;

4.  Officer in Charge, Feni Sadar PS, Dhaka;

5. Director General, Combine Military Hospital, Dhaka;

6. Nusrat Jahan Nipa

7. Khoshnahar

8. Major Akther Alias Shiblu Rojonigondha;

9. Inspector General of Police, Police Headquarters, Fulbaria, Dhaka

The petitioners are aggrieved by the failure of Respondent nos 4 and 5 to comply with their statutory duties to investigate the allegations of the beating of Hasina, 10 years old, while being forcibly subjected to domestic work at the  Major Akhter alias Shiblu and his wife Nipa’s house in Dhaka, which has been widely reported in newspapers across the country on 11 and 12 February 2011, and further by their failure to ensure the security of the children and their freedom from cruel, degrading and inhuman treatment and punishment while undergoing forced labour as domestic workers.

The Court issued a Rule Nisi upon Respondent Nos. 3, 4 and 9 to submit a report to the Court within ten days as to the measures taken by them to investigate, prosecute and punish the alleged incident of abuse of Hasina. The Court also directed respondent nos 3, 5 and 9 to ensure full security for Hasina and not to allow Nusrat Jahan Nipa to visit the victim child. The respondents were also directed to allow the family members of the victim, Mrs Sultana Kamal, Advocate and Dr. Md. Nur Khan, Chairman, Ain-O-Shalish Kendra to visit the victim Child Hasina.

Mr. Justice Syed Md. Ziaul Karim
Mr. Justice A.N.M. Bashir Ullah

The application for direction was submitted on behalf of the petitioners for directing the respondents no. 3 (Officer in Charge, Cantonment, Dhaka) /4(Officer in Charge, Feni Sadar, Feni) to record an FIR and to initiate investigations and to direct the respondent no. 9 (Inspector General of Police, Police Head Quarter, Fulbaria, Dhaka) to ensure that an FIR is lodged in this matter and to initiate investigation and on failure to do so why they should not be issued notice for being in contempt of court.

Mr. Justice Farid Ahmed

Mr. Justice Md. Shawkat Hossain

Affidavit in reply was submitted on behalf of the petitioner in response of the affidavit in compliance submitted by the respondent no. 9 ( Inspector General of Police, Police Head Quarter, Fulbaria, Dhaka) dated on 19.05.11.

Mr. Justice Farid Ahmed
Mr. Justice Md. Shawkat Hossain