[child-rights] Bangladesh: 1,029 children in prison

1. Bangladesh : 1,029 CHILDREN IN 65 JAILS

Staff Correspondent: www.dailystar.com

As many as 1029 children aged below 18 years were languishing in 65 jails
across the country last year, reveals a report. Odhikar, a human rights
organisation, in collaboration with Save the Children UK launched the
report titled, "Our Children in Jail", a year book on the state of
juvenile justice and violence against children in Bangladesh, at a
ceremony in the city yesterday. However, the number of such children has
now almost risen to 1200, said Inspector General of Prisons Brigadier
General Zillur Rahman, who was a discussant at the ceremony.

The report says children accused of crimes are being kept with convicts
and on-trial prisoners despite the fact that it is against law. It also
noted the deplorable lot of children of female inmates staying with their
mothers. Children living in jail become more vulnerable to diseases due to
the poor living condition there, the report says. Overcrowded prisons,
lack of proper ventilation, poor food and inadequate medical facilities
make the situation worse. There is no arrangement for children's
recreation in the jails, it added. However, the inspector general of
prisons said the condition of the children in jail is not different from
the children in the streets. "When the school children are being killed by
their relatives or friends, these children are safe in jail." "At least
their basic needs like food, clothes and medical facilities are ensured
there," he added. The report notes that police is unaware of the rights of
children and sometimes send the children to jail by registering them as
over 18 years old. Moreover, they do not spare the children from physical
torment and even physically abuse them while in custody. However, majority
of the children are arrested under special laws such as the Special Powers
Act, the Narcotics Control Act and so on, the report says. It also
mentioned use of children in armed combat by the political parties during
strikes and other activities. The report says till they are 18 years old
children need to be protected from the harsh laws. There is a need to
finalise the age limit of children for charging them with serious crimes
like murder, mayhem, anti-state activities and explosives-related cases.

Justice K M Hasan of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court noted
that despite the juvenile correction centres and shelter home established
by the government, the success rate of rehabilitating accused children is
very low. "Maybe these correction centres are over-simplified," he
observed. He suggested establishment of special courts or designated
courts with judges and personnel trained in line with Children Right
Convention Rules and Guidelines and with knowledge of the provisions of
the Children's Act 1974. Attorney General AF Hasan Arif stressed reforms
of the Children's Act 1974 and establishment of more correction centres.


Source: RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN RIGHTS E-Newsletter, Vol.4 No.38; 
September 23, 2002