2 Japanese children to stay with mother till Jan 3 next year: Appellate Division

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court today directed that two children, Nakano Jasmine Malika (11) and Nakano Laila Lina (9), who were brought from Japan to Bangladesh in February this year, will stay with their mother -- Japanese national Eriko Nakano -- until January 3 next year.

Their father Bangladesh-born US citizen, Imran Sharif, can visit his daughters at any time since 9am to 9pm every day during this period and the children must be allowed to go to school, the apex court said in the order.

A full bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order following a petition filed by Eriko challenging a High Court verdict on this issue and seeking the children to her custody. 

The bench fixed January 3 for further hearing and passing order on the petition, Eriko's lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir told The Daily Star.

Delivering verdict on a writ petition of Eriko, the HC on November 21 directed that Jasmine and Laila will remain with their father Imran Sharif and their mother Eriko can meet them (children) three times a year.

Eriko can meet her daughters (Jasmine and Laila) for 10 days at a time exclusively and Imran will bear her travel and other relevant expenses during these periods, it said.

Besides, she (Eriko) can also meet her children in Bangladesh at any other time at her own expense because she (Eriko) lives in Japan and she a service holder in her country (Japan), the HC said.