Growing up behind bars

Their lives are not like those of other children's.

There's no playground to play tag, no schooling, no sharing or caring, nor the love of their beloved families.

Their days are spent around notorious criminals and convicted prisoners. Inside the four walls of the jail, abusive words are as normal as saying hello.

There's a good possibility that the children are not even aware that there's a world beyond their repressive spaces.

Tragically, they don't have a crime of their own but are only victims of circumstance.

The only reason they are in jail is because their mothers were convicted in one crime or another.

According to Chattogram Deputy Inspector General (DIG), prison office, a total of 172 children are growing up in jail with their mothers under the district's nine prisons.

Jail authorities say that in spite of their limitations, they're trying to provide as much as they can for the children growing up under their supervision.

According to the officials said the children are being given primary education, healthy meals and other amenities so that they feel as close to home as possible.

In 2014, they even sent a proposal to set up a day-care centre for the inmates' children.

But as is the case with most bureaucratic projects, the proposal is still stuck in limbo.

According to Chattogram Central Jail data, there are 63 children living in its prison.

Apart from them, there are 64 in Cox's Bazar, two in Khagrachhari, one in Bandarban, 16 in Cumilla, 10 in Brahmanbaria, three in Chandpur, 10 in Noakhali and three in Feni jail, said deputy inspector general (DIG) (prisons) of Chattogram office.

Jailer Dewan Md Tarikul Islam of Chattogram Central Jail told The Daily Star, "Our 63 children live with mothers convicted in murder, drug, smuggling or other cases."

"We have a room inside the jail where they can be given primary education under the supervision of  Shishu Academy," the official said. 

"Apart from that, children are given toys, pens, papers and more to meet the demand of their ages," the jailer told The Daily Star.

The jail authorities aren't unaware of their limitations either.

"Due to a crisis of space, we can't build a day-care centre for them. The room we have is open till 6:00pm, after which the children return to their respective mothers."

"The children are growing up in a hostile environment, which no doubt affects their psyche. We're trying our best, but there's so much we can do," he further said.

Prison sources said the children are given meals as per diet charts based on their ages.

According to the guidelines, the children will be separated from their mothers once they turn six, at which point they are handed over to family members or sent to the social welfare ministry in the absence of any such relative.

According to data Chattogram-range prison office received in February, 851 women are now in jail. Apart from that, six are waiting for  their execution.  A total of 297 women are behind bars  over drug peddling  cases.

Talking to The Daily Star, sociologist Prof AF Imam Ali said, "To grow up healthy, children require a lot of elements. In jail, they don't get the care and love like the children outside do. If they are not properly nursed and instilled with a positive attitude, they risk growing up with criminal attitudes, as is prevalent in their environment."