All but two of 1037 cases false

In the two cases, one person got life term for acid throwing and four others got seven years' rigorous imprisonment for torture for dowry.

The rest proved false for various reasons including lack of evidence and "inadequate medical reports". Most of the cases were filed for alleged violence against women and rape, court sources said.

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The court was set up on January 20, 2002. Till May 31 this year, 1656 cases were filed and 1037 of those were disposed of. The rest are pending.

It was proved in the court that most of the false case were filed to harass opponents, the sources added.

When contacted, Public Prosecutor (PP) Advocate Uunus Ali Molla however claimed that the cases proved false due to improper police investigation. Police also failed to produce witnesses in court, he claimed.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Advocate Humayun Kabir claimed that in most of the medical certificates submitted in the cases, the doctors "did not give proper description of victims' injuries". They also delayed in giving medical certificates. In one incident, medical certificate in a rape case was submitted 12 days after examination of the victim, he claimed.

The RMO of Patuakhali General Hospital, Dr Mizanur Rahma, said, "We try our best to write medical certificate properly and to give it timely".

Delayed may be caused as members of the Medical Board are not always available in time, he said.

Shafiqur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of the Sadar thana said final report in a case is given when evidence is not found. So the case proves false, he said.