Outrage in Teknaf as ‘minor held in father’s stead’

The minor son of a Jubo League leader Rezaul Karim was detained and sent to a juvenile centre sparking outrage in Cox's Bazar's Teknaf.
According to police, Rezaul faces multiple drug-related charges.
The incident, which took place on November 26, sparked outrage among locals, students and rights activist, who are demanding the boy's release and the removal of Mohammad Gias Uddin as the officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station.
Police said the 16-year-old boy was apprehended allegedly in possession of a foreign pistol and 46 rounds of ammunition, which belonged to his father, a member of the Hnila Union Parishad.
According the statement of the case, filed by Sub-Inspector Badiul Alam, police conducted a raid around 3:55am near Dargapara in Hnila.
Law enforcers reportedly detained a boy carrying a blue bag containing the weapon and ammunition while another person fled the scene.
"During primary interrogation, the boy admitted his father have given him the pistol and ammunition to deliver those to a nearby house."
Rezaul at a press briefing alleged police targeted his son based on political affiliation.
"Police recovered arms and ammunition from a house near ours and later raided my home when I wasn't there. They dragged my son out of bed, kicked him, and implicated him in the case. The confession they claim was forcibly extracted."
He added that his son, a seventh grader and three-time scholarship recipient, missed his annual exams due to his detention.
"I demand the government investigate the incident, withdraw the false charges, and ensure my son's immediate release."
OC Gias Uddin said Rezaul, who is accused in several cases, had given the weapon to his son for safekeeping.
"The boy was caught red-handed with his [Rezaul's] weapon. Considering his age, we ensured his rights [as a juvenile] but can't release him given the seriousness of the offense."
He added that the boy was sent to a Child Development Center after being presented in court.
The controversy deepened after a video footage of the boy's confession surfaced on social media.
Netizens alleged the confession was coerced and questioned how such a recording could be made while the child was in police custody.
The OC denied police involvement in filming the video, claiming it might have been done by onlookers during the arrest.
Yesterday, hundreds of students in Teknaf formed a human chain demanding the minor's release.
Earlier in Dhaka University, students hailing from Ukhiya and Teknaf demonstrated near the Raju sculpture and demanded the removal of OC Gias Uddin.
Joynal Abedin, president of the Dhaka University Student Association of Ukhiya-Teknaf, said the arrest of a 16-year-old student is a human rights violation.
He said Rezaul is known to have a criminal record. "The boy was picked up from one house, while the pistol, allegedly belonging to his father, was recovered from a different location.
"The video footage collected from locals suggest the weapon was not in the detainees possession."
He further accused police of coercing a confession from the child.
"The video of his confession was recorded by police, and a 16-year-old child is bound to give a statement under duress."
Abedin added that if Rezaul is guilty, he should face the consequences, "but targeting a minor is unacceptable".
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