Harnessing clinical forensic medicine in rape investigations: Analyzing legal frameworks and practices in Bangladesh

This article investigates the role of clinical forensic medicine in the legal response to rape in Bangladesh, critically evaluating how medico-legal practices intersect with statutory and procedural frameworks. Drawing on doctrinal analysis, policy review, and contemporary medical standards, the study explores how forensic medical evidence—when properly collected and interpreted—can substantiate legal claims in rape prosecutions and strengthen access to justice for victims. However, the research identifies systemic deficiencies: outdated laws, the lack of procedural uniformity, insufficient forensic training, infrastructural limitations, and weak institutional coordination between legal and medical bodies. These obstacles not only compromise evidentiary integrity but also erode victim trust and delay justice. The article argues for an urgent recalibration of the medico-legal landscape in Bangladesh, advocating for a harmonized and victim-centered framework that integrates forensic medicine into the legal process. Such reform is essential for ensuring accountability in sexual violence cases and upholding the rights and dignity of survivors.