Staff Correspondent

Four children from Bakerganj in Barishal, who were arrested in a rape case, have been handed over to their parents yesterday after they were released from Jashore Children Development Centre in line with a High Court directive issued on Thursday night.

“Officer-in-charge of Bakerganj Police Station informed me at 8:30am today over phone that the four children were handed over to their parents. They were carried in a microbus with proper police protection. Local administration of Jashore has made the arrangement,” said Supreme Court spokesperson Mohammad Saifur Rahman.

At 9:30pm on Thursday, two High Court judges operated a bench and directed Nari o Shishu Nirjaton Daman Tribunal of Barishal to instantly grant bail to the four, arrested on October 6 in a case filed on charges of raping a six-year-old at Bakerganj.

In a suomuto (voluntary) order, the HC directed the authorities to release the children -- 10 to 12 years of age -- from the custody of Children Development Centre at Pulerhat in Jashore on bail and hand them over to their guardians that night.

The OC was ordered to submit a report to the SC special officer in this regard.

The HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Mohi Uddin Shamim came up with the order following a report broadcast on a private television channel on the incident of arresting the children and inhumanly taking them to the centre, following rejection of their bail prayer. Court sources said the HC judges ordered Senior Judicial Magistrate of Barishal Enayet Ullah, who rejected the petitions, to appear before the bench on Sunday to place his explanation.

The HC bench also ordered the OC to appear before the bench along with the children and their guardians tomorrow and asked the registrar of Barishal Medical College Hospital to submit a medical report of the victim child. The HC will also hold a hearing on the issue tomorrow.

The tribunal granted bail to the children immediately after receiving the HC order.

The incident took place on October 4. According to the case statement, the four boys raped the girl in the pretext of playing. The victim disclosed the matter to her mother after she fell sick on Oct 6. Her father filed the case the same day.

Bakerganj police arrested them 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 police to send them to the development centre.