Parents of teenagers detained at the Gazipur Juvenile Correctional Centre have claimed that most of the time, they had to wait for hours to see their children due to the alleged mismanagement and negligence of suspended supervisor Anwarul Kabir.
“I had to wait two to three hours for getting permission before meeting my child. Most of the time I returned home without seeing my son,” said Ali Akbar of Sripur upazila in Gazipur district.
Ali said his son had made several allegations of torture against the supervisor, who would often badmouth the parents and torture them mentally. Ali also claimed that his son was accused in false cases.
A businessman at College Gate near the correctional facility, who asked his name not be used, said, “Parents of the teenagers could be seen waiting and standing before the gate for hours. Some would be crying while returning home.”
Meanwhile, a five-member committee formed by High Court on Thursday has started probing the reported mismanagement at the centre.
The committee, headed by Gazipur Additional Deputy Commissioner Shahnawaz Dilruba Khan, is expected to submit a report within seven working days.
After visiting the centre yesterday as part of the investigation, Director General of the Department of Social Services Aiyub Hossain said the teenagers, who had wounded themselves with razors, were undergoing treatment at the centre provided by a medical team from Tongi Government Hospital.
“We are taking care of the injured regularly,” said Gazipur Civil Surgeon Dr Shah Alam.
“I have never heard of such an incident at the centre before. The teenage inmates have received treatment from Tongi Government Hospital many times before. We usually took them to the hospital when they caught fever or cold,” the doctor said.
Ziaur Rahman Chowdhury, the present supervisor in charge, said, “The injured are fine now. The matter was informed to higher authorities.”
About 20 boys, aged between 14 and 18, slashed their own foreheads, arms and wrists on Tuesday night to demand the removal of acting supervisor Anwarul Kabir for allegedly torturing the inmates, most of whom are under trial for various rimes.
