EFFECTIVENESS OF LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE IN BANGLADESH: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Keywords:
INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK, JUVENILE JUSTICE, BANGLADESHAbstract
In Bangladesh, the level of implementation and enforcement of legislations
particularly related to juvenile justice is far away from expectation. Attempt has
been made to conduct a research to find out the weaknesses and shortcomings of these legislations and also the implementation mechanism. Collecting data
mainly from secondary sources such as national and international legislations,
conventions and partly taking feedback from relevant FGD and KII the issue was
examined and analysed. From the study it is found that the legislations are not
suitable and updated for an effective Juvenile Justice System. The machinery to
enforce these legislations and to provide optimum service to the juveniles is not
appropriate. Hence it is recommended that along with other laws the Children
Act 1974, the most important law relating to juvenile justice should be updated
keeping conformity with the international standard. Juvenile courts in all districts
and sufficient well equipped certified institutions should be established. However,
it is equally important to provide necessary resources for activities related to child
welfare, adoption of diversion and non custodial measures which will reduce the
frequency of children’s coming contact with the law. In the long run, it is required
to develop non-criminogenic attitude and behavior of children by engaging
themselves in socially useful activities, providing them a non-polluted congenial
environment and adopting a humanistic orientation towards society and life.
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