Arrange separate vehicles for female prisoners: HC

The High Court today directed the government to provide separate vehicles for transporting female prisoners across the country to protect them from sexual harassment.

The court also asked the government to explain in two weeks what steps would have been taken to prevent recurrence of similar incidents.

It also issued a rule upon the authorities to explain in two weeks why they should not be directed to ensure that separate vehicles are used for transporting female prisoners across the country.

The High Court bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain came up with the order and rule following a writ petition by Supreme Court lawyer Ruhul Kuddus Kajal.

He submitted the petition on Sunday following a report published on the Bangla daily Prothom Alo on March 8 saying that female prisoners are harassed by the male inmates while being transported by the same vehicle.

The home secretary, inspector general of police, inspector general of prisons, Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner and jailer of Chittagong Central Jail have been made respondents to the rule.