Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Sunday stayed the trial proceedings of a rape case which was filed against four children in Bakerganj police station in Barishal.
At the same time, the court ordered the officer in charge (OC) of Bakerganj police station to give adequate security to the four children and their families.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Mohi Uddin Shamim passed the order as a Suo Moto move after hearing the statements from the four children and their guardians and other concerned persons.
Earlier in the day, Abul Kalam, officer in charge of Bakerganj police station in Barishal, appeared along with the four children and their guardians before the HC bench in line with the October 8 directive.
Then the judges heard the statements from every person related in this case. They also listened to the four children especially in their private chambers.
After hearing the statements, the High Court reprimanded Barishal’s senior judicial magistrate Enayet Ullah and police officials concerned for sending four children to the custody of a children’s development centre beyond his jurisdiction.
The incident of rape took place in Bakerganj on October 6 and the victim’s father filed the case the same day.
Bakerganj police arrested the four children on October 7 and produced them to the court of senior judicial magistrate Enayet Ullah the same day. He rejected their bail petitions and ordered the police to send them to Jashore Children Development Centre.
Private television channel Shomoy TV broadcast a report on the incident of arresting the children and inhumanly taking them to Jashore Children Development Centre following the rejection of their bail prayer.
Following the report, the same High Court bench on October 8 this year passed a Suo Moto order after setting a session in night to release the four children from the custody of Children Development Centre on bail and to hand them over to their guardians within that night.
The HC judges ordered senior judicial magistrate of Barishal who rejected the bail petitions of the children to appear before the HC bench on Sunday morning to place his explanation for rejecting the bail petition.
The HC bench also ordered the OC of Bakerganj police station to appear before the bench along with the children and their guardians on Sunday.
In line with the High Court directive four children were handed over to their parents early on Friday after they were released from Jashore Children Development Centre.
OC of Bakerganj police station informed the spokesperson of the Supreme Court over phone that the four children were handed over to their parents on last Friday.
Besides, the court also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why filing the case against the children and their detention should not be declared illegal.
The HC stayed the trial proceedings till disposed of the rule, said deputy attorney general Nawroz Mohammad Russel Chowdhury who appeared in the court for the state. The court also fixed November 22 for further hearing of the rule, added the state counsel.
The High Court on Sunday stayed the trial proceedings of a rape case which was filed against four children in Bakerganj police station in Barishal.
At the same time, the court ordered the officer in charge (OC) of Bakerganj police station to give adequate security to the four children and their families.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Mohi Uddin Shamim passed the order as a Suo Moto move after hearing the statements from the four children and their guardians and other concerned persons.
Earlier in the day, Abul Kalam, officer in charge of Bakerganj police station in Barishal, appeared along with the four children and their guardians before the HC bench in line with the October 8 directive.
Then the judges heard the statements from every person related in this case. They also listened to the four children especially in their private chambers.
After hearing the statements, the High Court reprimanded Barishal’s senior judicial magistrate Enayet Ullah and police officials concerned for sending four children to the custody of a children’s development centre beyond his jurisdiction.
The incident of rape took place in Bakerganj on October 6 and the victim’s father filed the case the same day.
Bakerganj police arrested the four children on October 7 and produced them to the court of senior judicial magistrate Enayet Ullah the same day. He rejected their bail petitions and ordered the police to send them to Jashore Children Development Centre.
Private television channel Shomoy TV broadcast a report on the incident of arresting the children and inhumanly taking them to Jashore Children Development Centre following the rejection of their bail prayer.
Following the report, the same High Court bench on October 8 this year passed a Suo Moto order after setting a session in night to release the four children from the custody of Children Development Centre on bail and to hand them over to their guardians within that night.
The HC judges ordered senior judicial magistrate of Barishal who rejected the bail petitions of the children to appear before the HC bench on Sunday morning to place his explanation for rejecting the bail petition.
The HC bench also ordered the OC of Bakerganj police station to appear before the bench along with the children and their guardians on Sunday.
In line with the High Court directive four children were handed over to their parents early on Friday after they were released from Jashore Children Development Centre.
OC of Bakerganj police station informed the spokesperson of the Supreme Court over phone that the four children were handed over to their parents on last Friday.
Besides, the court also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why filing the case against the children and their detention should not be declared illegal.
The HC stayed the trial proceedings till disposed of the rule, said deputy attorney general Nawroz Mohammad Russel Chowdhury who appeared in the court for the state. The court also fixed November 22 for further hearing of the rule, added the state counsel.
