Rights bodies call for judicial probe

Child Rights Advocacy Coalition in Bangladesh -- a group of right activists' organisations -- yesterday demanded judicial investigation into the killing of three boys at Jashore Juvenile Development Centre.

They claimed although the incident was reported in many media as an internal clash between two groups of children, the injured hospitalised teenagers complained against the officers and employees of the juvenile centre that they beat the boys till death.

"There are previous allegations that bodies of teenagers have been recovered, beaten and tortured at this centre and the district administration had constituted an inquiry committee earlier. The inquiry committee also made several recommendations for the smooth running of the institution, which were not implemented."

It demanded an inquiry into why the recommendations were not implemented. They said the deaths and serious injuries of these juveniles in custody are unexpected.

The coalition members -- Save the Children Bangladesh, ActionAid Bangladesh, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), Educo Bangladesh, Terre des Hommes Netherlands, Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum, National Girl Child Advocacy Forum, Plan International Bangladesh and World Vision Bangladesh -- also expressed grave concern over the incident.