Submit report on death of 3 minors

A High Court (HC) bench has issued a rule instructing Jashore Child Development Centre to submit an investigation report on the death of three inhabitants within three months.

The rule was issued in response to a writ petition filed by Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers' Association (BNWLA), seeking permission to visit the development centre to observe the standard of care being provided to the children there, a press release circulated by BNWLA said.

On August 13, three minor inmates of the juvenile detention centre were allegedly tortured to death by several staffers and senior inmates. Fifteen others were also injured.

"The HC bench of Justice Md Mojibur Rahman Miah and Justice Mohiuddin Shamim also questioned in the rule why Advocate Salma Ali and BNWLA will not be allowed to visit the youth detention centres to monitor the care being received by the convicted children," said the press release.

"Following the death of the three children, we need to independently verify the situation inside the youth detention centres run by the government," Salma Ali said.

The statement added that the writ petition was filed by Advocate Nahid Mahtab and Advocate Rumana Haque.