The Bangladeshi origin Canadian girl, 19, who had allegedly been confined for 10 months in her parents’ house at North Mugda in Dhaka against her will, is now under the care of the Canadian High Commission in Dhaka.
The girl, a student of Toronto University in Canada, was handed over to the Canadian High Commission on Sunday (April 17) following the directive of the High Court (HC).
The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice SM Maniruzzaman issued the directive following a writ petition as the girl wanted to go back to Canada.
Two rights organisations-- Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST)-- filed the writ petition.
Senior lawyer ZI Khan Panna and Barrister Sara Hossain appeared for the writ petitioners while Advocate Md Ajiullah stood for the girl’s parents. The father of the teen girl and officials of the embassy were present in the court during the hearing.
The HC bench asked Registrar of High Court Md Golam Rabbani to take the girl to the Canadian High Commission. Later, the HC Registrar handed over the girl to the officials of Canadian High Commission.
The High Court asked the Canadian High Commission to take necessary steps to send her back to Canada, ensure her security and bear her living and study expenses.
The girl will stay in the custody of Canadian High Commission in Dhaka until she flies for the country on completion of all relevant procedures, said Advocate Md Ajiullah.
The lawyer said her parents, who are also Bangladesh-born Canadian nationals, can meet their daughter in Canada under the laws of that country.
The girl and her father appeared before the higher court during the hearing. Her father also gave consent to her for going back to Canada.
The HC bench disposed of the petition after delivering the directives.
The HC bench said that the Canadian national cannot be kept confined against her will as she is an adult and wants to go back to Canada.
Earlier on April 5, following the writ petition the HC bench asked the police to produce the Canadian girl along with her parents before the court on April 10.
Police produced the Canadian girl before the High Court on Sunday (April 10). Her parents also appeared before the High Court.
During hearing on that the day, the HC bench observed that parents should not impose any decision on children against their will.
The HC bench also heard the statements of the Canadian girl in a closed door courtroom. Later, the bench adjourned the hearing until April 12.
During the hearing on Tuesday, Barrister Sara Hossain requested the High Court to hand over the 19-year old girl to the Canadian High Commission in Dhaka.
The HC bench said that the Canadian national cannot be kept confined against her will as she is an adult and wants to go back to Canada. The parents should keep in mind that their children will look after them when they age.
The court asked the parents of the girl to return her mobile phone, laptop and give her access to internet connection so that she could communicate with her friends and others.
According to the writ petition, the 19-year-old girl was born in Canada. She is a Canadian citizen by birth. She studies in Toronto University in Canada. Her parents used to live in Canada. They came to Bangladesh along with the girl, who is a Bangladeshi descent, 10 months ago. They told their girl that they were going to visit Bangladesh for some days. But afterwards her parents did not want to send her abroad anymore. The young girl then tried to return to Canada but she was not allowed to do so. In the circumstances, she sought help from the Canadian High Commission.
It was alleged in the writ petition that the girl’s mobile phone was snatched from her and her grandmother and mother kept her confined to the house all the time. At one point, the young woman told the Canadian government and the Canadian High Commission in Dhaka on landline that she had been forcibly kept confined to the house. The young woman expressed her desire to return to Canada.
Later, the Canadian High Commission in Dhaka filed a general diary with Mugda Police Station on February 9.
