Cabinet clears Children Act draft

The Cabinet has given final approval for the draft of the Children Act, in which those below 18 years of age are recognised as children.

The Cabinet during its scheduled meeting on Monday chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina cleared the draft with provisions for harsher punishment for violating rights of the children or for torturing them.

Cabinet Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan briefed journalists after the meeting.

He said the Act has a total 100 sections.

Bhuiyan said the law reflects Bangladesh’s social values and hoped parents will not face legal problems as they do in the West.

“Parental control over children is acceptable in our society but they will be brought under law to avoid excesses,” he added.

The Secretary said cruelty towards the children will be punished by five years in jail and a fine of Tk 100,000.

He said that the acts of hitting, neglecting or leaving a child in an insecure condition will be deemed as ‘torture’.

He also said if someone forces or encourages a child to beg or leads him to do something illegal, the person will get a five-year jail term and slapped a fine of Tk 100,000.

If a custodian gets intoxicated while handling a child, it will be considered a crime and that person will be sentenced to one year in jail and fined Tk 50,000.

If someone uses or compels a child to carry or transport drugs or illegal contraband, he will be put behind bars for three years and fined Tk 100,000

If anyone encourages a child to gamble, that person will be jailed for up to two years and fined Tk 50,000.

The Secretary said if anyone assists a child flee his home, he will be sentenced to one year in jail and fined Tk 50,000.

Bhuiyan said the Act elaborately mentions about measures for care of children, including institutional care for the deprived ones.

Asked whether using children in political rallies will be punishable under the Act, he said that it will be considered a crime if the children are forced to attend rallies.

The Cabinet Secretary said the law was prepared for the development, growth, interests, rights and welfare of the children.

He said a Child Court will be set up at every district under the law. Children Welfare Funds will be constituted at the national, district and upazila levels and desk on child affairs will be formed at each police station headed by a police officer.