JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has released a monitoring report documenting the arrest or detention of 2,774 children and adolescents across 12 incidents and series of operations in four divisions and eight districts of Bangladesh between September 23 and October 22, 2026.
The report, titled Mass Arrests and Detentions of Children and Adolescents in Bangladesh over One Month, was published from JMBF’s headquarters in Paris on Monday (October 26). It draws on monitoring of national, regional and local print and online media, as well as information obtained through JMBF’s reliable sources. Where possible, reported incidents and figures were cross-checked against multiple publications and information from JMBF’s source network.
JMBF expressed grave concern over the scale of the reported operations and the use of police custody to control children’s and adolescents’ movements, public gatherings and school attendance. The organisation stressed that depriving children and adolescents of their liberty without an individualised, lawful and necessary basis raises serious concerns about violations of their fundamental rights, even when they are subsequently released into their guardians’ care.
“Children and adolescents must not be taken into police custody simply because they gather in public places, miss classes or are presumed to be potential offenders,” said Advocate Shahanur Islam, Founder President of JMBF.
He added, “Police must establish an individual legal basis for every arrest and demonstrate why detention is necessary. Releasing children and adolescents later on their guardians’ undertakings does not erase an earlier violation of their rights.”
Chattogram Division Accounts for the Majority of Documented Cases
According to the report, Chattogram Division recorded the highest number of children and adolescents arrested or detained, with 2,418 cases. This included 2,035 in Cumilla District alone. Sylhet Division accounted for 300 cases, Rajshahi for 50 and Barishal for six.
The monthly breakdown shows that 2,173 children and adolescents were arrested or detained between September 23 and 30, followed by another 601 between October 1 and 22.
JMBF emphasised that these figures represent incidents identified through its monitoring and should not be interpreted as a complete national total. The organisation believes the actual number may be higher because some incidents remain unreported or do not reach its monitoring network.
The report also documents the reported outcomes of these cases: 1,720 children and adolescents were released on written undertakings from their guardians, 194 were released to their guardians through other arrangements, 833 were placed in jail custody, and 27 were transferred to the Tongi Child Development Centre. These figures describe reported case outcomes and do not indicate how many children and adolescents remain in detention.
Schoolchildren Detained During Class Hours
Among the incidents highlighted in the report is the detention of 16 school-going children and adolescents in Shahrasti, Chandpur District, during class hours. They were subsequently released to their guardians.
The report also examines mass arrest and detention operations in Cumilla, Sylhet, Natore and Noakhali, raising questions about whether the authorities adequately assessed the individual circumstances of those detained or considered less restrictive alternatives before depriving children and adolescents of their liberty.
JMBF warned that mass operations must not become a substitute for individualised law enforcement. Children and adolescents cannot be presumed guilty or deprived of their liberty solely because of their presence in particular locations, their association with others, or allegations of involvement in gangs.
Legal Safeguards Must Be Respected
JMBF stressed that Bangladesh’s constitutional protections of personal liberty and the safeguards established under the Children Act 2013 must be respected in every police operation involving children and adolescents.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child requires that the arrest, detention or imprisonment of a child be lawful, non-arbitrary and used only as a measure of last resort for the shortest appropriate period. Allegations of gang involvement do not remove these protections or establish an individual child’s guilt.
JMBF emphasised that law enforcement authorities must assess the circumstances of each case individually, establish the legal grounds for any deprivation of liberty, and ensure that the rights and best interests of children are protected throughout arrest, detention and release procedures.
JMBF Calls for Immediate Action
In light of its findings, JMBF urges the Government of Bangladesh and the relevant law enforcement and judicial authorities to:
- End mass arrests and detentions of children and adolescents that are not supported by individualised, lawful grounds.
- Review every reported case of detention to establish its legal basis, necessity and proportionality, and release those held without lawful justification.
- Prioritise diversion and non-custodial alternatives wherever appropriate, in accordance with the Children Act 2013 and applicable international standards.
- Guarantee access to legal assistance, family contact and probation support for children and adolescents involved in the justice system.
- Conduct independent and impartial investigations into allegations of arbitrary arrest and detention, hold responsible officials accountable where violations are established, and ensure access to effective remedies and compensation where legally due.
JMBF further stressed that the protection of children’s rights must remain a priority in all law enforcement operations, regardless of allegations concerning their conduct or associations.
Concerns Over Possible Political Motivations
The report excludes cases explicitly linked to political activities, which JMBF addresses separately in its six-month monitoring report, Politically Motivated Arbitrary Arrests of Children in Bangladesh.
However, JMBF remains concerned that the actual or perceived political affiliations of children and adolescents, including their family associations, may have influenced some arrests without being explicitly disclosed. The organisation called for these concerns to be independently investigated to establish whether political considerations played a role in any of the documented cases.
JMBF reiterated that children and adolescents are entitled to legal protection and due process regardless of their political, social or family associations. Any deprivation of their liberty must be justified by lawful grounds and assessed on an individual basis.
JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) calls on the Government of Bangladesh to ensure that all law enforcement measures involving children and adolescents comply with domestic law and international human rights standards. Protecting public safety must not come at the expense of children’s fundamental rights, dignity and freedom.