Detained children at Covid-19 risk

The number of children detained has increased in the country since court proceedings were postponed in March amid Covid-19 outbreak, Unicef Bangladesh said yesterday.

"Their number is now almost twice the capacity of the juvenile centres," it said in a statement, adding, more than 1,000 children awaiting trial or sentenced for petty crimes are currently held in three correction centres.

With limited staff and logistical support, and with inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, it is exceptionally difficult for children and staff at the centres to practice physical distancing or to self-isolate to minimise the risk of Covid-19 infection.

"These facilities can become hotspots of infection," it added.

Amid this, seven children were released on Wednesday through setting up a virtual children's court. Several hundred can be released in the next two weeks, Unicef said.

Welcoming the initiative, Tomoo Hozumi, Unicef representative in Bangladesh, said, "The wellbeing and protection of children must be at the centre of our response to Covid-19."

Meanwhile, several virtual children's courts are expediting the trial of children to release them from juvenile centres to avoid their possible infection with Covid-19, according to the statement.

The first-ever such court in the country began operating on Tuesday.

The Supreme Court established the courts with support from Unicef, which also provides technical support to the Department of Social Services and the juvenile centres to manage the court procedures.

Unicef said it is also working with the SC special committee on child rights and law ministry for improved justice for children, including child-friendly courts.