On October 2, a government medical board in Khagrachhari claimed there was “no evidence of rape” in the case of a 12-year-old Marma schoolgirl whose assault sparked widespread protests. We, the Bangladesh Feminist Archive, strongly condemn these remarks. Under no law of Bangladesh can a doctor determine whether rape occurred. Such conclusions lie only within the court’s jurisdiction, based on full evidence—not medical opinion.
A doctor’s role is limited to documenting the presence or absence of physical signs such as semen, blood, or injury. Declaring “no rape” based on medical tests is unethical and deeply harmful, reinforcing disbelief and protecting perpetrators. Publicly releasing such sensitive information violates the survivor’s privacy, safety, and dignity, especially in a militarized region where Indigenous women already face systemic violence and fear of retaliation.
The absence of visible injury does not mean the absence of rape. Survivors often delay reporting due to trauma or fear. These statements echo a long history of denial, silencing, and erasure of Indigenous women’s suffering in Bangladesh. We urge the Ministry of Health, BMDC, and DGHS to take disciplinary action against those responsible and to ensure trauma-informed, survivor-centered care in all sexual-violence cases.
Justice cannot be built on denial.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives 