CSWC Welcomes HC Order to Remove Magura Rape Victim's Photos

Cyber Support for Women and Children (CSWC) has welcomed the High Court's directive to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to immediately remove all photos of a child rape victim in Magura from social media platforms. 

The order was issued on March 9, 2025, following a report presented in court by Barrister Mahsib Hossain. 

The directive came from a High Court bench consisting of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury.

In a press release, CSWC emphasized the urgency of protecting victims' identities and removing harassing content and videos involving women and children from online platforms. 

The organization also demanded effective legal actions against perpetrators of technology facilitated gender-based violence and the protection of personal data.

CSWC highlighted the absence of a proper data protection framework in Bangladesh and the lack of specific provisions addressing technology-induced sexual violence in current cyber laws. 

The platform urged for amendments to the Pornography Control Act, 2012, the inclusion of digital forensic evidence in legal proceedings, and the establishment of a dedicated cybercrime cell. 

Additionally, CSWC called for training judicial officials on handling online violence complaints sensitively and integrating digital literacy into educational curricula.

According to research by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and UN Women, only 21.25% of internet users in Bangladesh are women. 

A 2021 survey by Ain o Salish Kendra revealed that 70% of cybercrime victims were women, with 64% experiencing online harassment at some point.

CSWC, a coalition of 13 organizations led by Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), is committed to ensuring a safer digital environment for women and children by advocating for comprehensive legal reforms and raising awareness on digital security.