HC Seeks Report on Children Growing Up in Prisons

The High Court has sought detailed information on the number of children currently in prison custody with their mothers who are either accused or convicted of various crimes. The court directed the Inspector General of Prisons to submit a report within two months specifying the number of children in each prison, their ages, the environment in which they are being kept, and the facilities available for child care in prisons.

The High Court bench of Justice Khizir Ahmed Chowdhury and Justice Md. Ziaul Haque issued the order along with a rule on Monday following a preliminary hearing on a writ petition.

In the rule, the court asked why the government should not be directed to ensure proper safety, welfare, and an environment conducive to the development of children living with mothers accused or convicted in various criminal cases. The court asked the respondents, including the Home Secretary, Law Secretary, Social Welfare Secretary, and Director General of the Department of Prisons, to respond to the rule.

On May 8, a national daily published a report titled “Childhood at Risk in Prison.” Referring to that report, Supreme Court lawyer Kamrun Nahar Mahmud filed a writ petition with the High Court the following day. She argued the petition herself before the court. Lawyers Farzana Akter and Hosne Ara Begum also appeared in support of the writ. Deputy Attorneys General Md. Farukh Hossain and Saifuzzaman represented the state.

Lawyer Kamrun Nahar Mahmud said, “We filed the writ seeking a report and a rule regarding how children living with their mothers in prison are being kept, the environment in which they are living, how they are being cared for, what international standards or policies exist regarding child care in prisons, and how Bangladesh’s prison child care system compares with those standards. The court has issued an order along with the rule.”

Under Rule 957 of the Bangladesh Jail Code, female detainees and convicted prisoners may keep their children with them until the age of four. However, subject to approval by prison authorities, incarcerated mothers may keep their children with them until the age of six.

According to the published report, as of April 26, 2026, a total of 299 children, including infants, were living with their mothers in the country’s 74 central and district prisons. Most of the mothers of these children are accused in narcotics cases. Among the children, 153 are girls and 146 are boys. Some of their mothers are serving sentences, while others are facing trial.

A total of 100 children are living in 18 central and district prisons in the Dhaka Division. In the Chattogram Division, 90 children are living in 12 central and district prisons. The Rajshahi Division has 25 children in eight central and district prisons, while the Sylhet Division has 19 children in five central and district prisons.

In addition, 25 children are living with their mothers in eight central and district prisons in the Rangpur Division, 20 children in 10 central and district prisons in the Khulna Division, four children in six central and district prisons in the Barishal Division, and 13 children in four central and district prisons in the Mymensingh Division.

The highest number of children living with their mothers is in Kashimpur Central Women’s Prison in Gazipur. As of May 4, the prison housed 51 children, including 24 boys and 27 girls. Nearly all of these children have to live in designated prison wards or cells alongside other convicted prisoners or detainees, most of whom are accused in murder and narcotics cases.