HC Orders Immediate Removal of 8-Year-Old Rape Victim’s Photos from Social Media

The High Court (HC) today directed the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to immediately remove all images of an eight-year-old rape victim from social media. 

The order was issued by an HC bench comprising Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury, acting suo motu (on its own motion) after Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Mahsib Hossain presented newspaper reports on the incident. 

Barrister Mahsib also urged the court to direct the government to take urgent measures to protect the child’s health. The HC may issue further directives on the matter. 

According to police, the child was raped on March 6 while visiting her sister’s in-laws’ home in Magura. Her sister’s father-in-law allegedly carried out the assault, while her sister’s husband is suspected of aiding the crime. 

Police further revealed that the rapist’s wife and elder son were aware of the attack and later attempted to kill the child. The victim, now in critical condition, is receiving treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka. 

Her mother filed a case with Magura Sadar Police Station on March 8, naming four individuals – the sister’s father-in-law, husband, mother-in-law, and brother-in-law – as accused. Police have arrested all four and are continuing their investigation.