Hasnatul Islam Fayaz, a 17-year-old recent SSC graduate, was remanded for seven days by a Dhaka court today. Shockingly, police presented him in court handcuffed and with a rope around his waist, violating both the law and human rights.
Firstly, under Bangladeshi law, anyone under 18 is considered a child. It’s unclear if the law allows remanding a child. According to the 2013 Child Act, only child courts have jurisdiction over juvenile cases, but Fayaz was presented in Dhaka Magistrate Court.
Secondly, after being detained without his family's knowledge for four days, police handcuffed and tied Fayaz with a rope, bringing him to and from court this way, which is illegal. Section 44 of the Child Act states that children cannot be handcuffed or tied.
Fayaz, according to his birth certificate, is 17 years and 3 months old. Photos and videos clearly show him handcuffed.
Section 330 of the Police Regulations states that excessive restraint on detainees is unnecessary and degrading, especially for those whose security can be maintained easily due to age or infirmity. Fayaz, who scored all A+ in this year’s SSC exams and recently enrolled at Dhaka College, now faces unimaginable psychological trauma from this ordeal, which could affect him for life.
