Why gender detection of unborn babies not illegal: HC

In order to ensure protection of the unborn and pregnant mothers, the High Court (HC) issued a rule asking the respondents to explain within six weeks, why their inaction to frame a guideline to stop the gender detection of unborn babies should not be declared illegal and unlawful.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman issued the rule on Monday following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Ishrat Hasan seeking necessary order.

Assistant attorney general MMG Sarwar Payel stood for the state during the hearing in the court.

Secretaries to the ministries of health, women and children affairs and social welfare affairs, directorate generals of health services, family planning, department of women affairs and national institute of population research and training have been made respondents to the rule.

On January 26, Advocate Ishrat Hasan filed the writ petition with the section concerned of the HC, requesting it to order the authorities 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 having registration to do so before the court.

Dhaka/Mahidi/AI