Gender Detection of Foetus: HC seeks govt’s explanations
The High Court yesterday issued a rule asking the government to explain within six weeks why they should not be directed to frame a guideline to prevent gender detection of unborn babies, in order to ensure protection of the unborn and pregnant mothers.
In the rule, the court also asked respondents to show cause why their failure to frame a guideline to prevent gender detection of unborn babies should not be declared illegal.
Secretaries to the ministries of health, women and children affairs, and social welfare affairs, Directorate General of Health Services, family planning department of women affairs, and national institute of population research and training have been made respondents to the rule.
The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman issued the rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Ishrat Hasan seeking necessary orders.
The lawyer submitted the petition to the HC on January 26 requesting it to order the respondents to stop selling, transferring or handling any machine used for gender detection of unborn babies and to submit lists of hospitals, diagnostic centres and other entities registered to do so before the court.
In her petition, Ishrat requested the HC to issue a rule seeking an explanation from the respondents on why they should not be ordered to maintain a database of diagnosis reports of unborn babies conducted by registered hospitals, diagnosis centres and other entities.
She also said that most people desire baby boys considering that “male babies are the vessels of future generations and can give protection”.
If the unborn baby’s gender is not to the liking of the parents in the detection test, pregnant mothers become frustrated, which has mental and physical impacts and affects the baby’s growth inside the womb.
Thus, gender detection of unborn babies is a violation of gender equality, right to life and right to protection guaranteed by the constitution, Ishrat said in the petition.
Barrister Md Abdul Halim and Ishrat moved the writ petition while Assistant Attorney General MMG Sarwar Payel represented the state.
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