The High Court today ordered the authorities concerned of the government to immediately release the children under 12 years, who were convicted by the mobile courts on various times and kept in the Children Development Centre.

The court also granted six month bail to children aged between twelve to eighteen years who were convicted by the mobile courts. 

They will be released on subject to satisfaction of the children's court concerned, the court said. 

At the same time, the court asked the authorities concerned to make separate files about the cases against the children convicted by mobile courts and kept in the children’s development centre.

The files should be sent to the High Court in seven working days, the court said.

It issued a rule asking the authorities to explain why the conviction of the children by the mobile court should not be declared illegal.

The HC bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Mahmud Hasan Talukder came up with the order and rule on a Suo moto (voluntary) move following the news report published in Prothom Alo today.

According to the report, mobile courts have illegally jailed 121 children to six months to one year and they have been kept in the Children Development Centre in Tongi and Jashore.

Barrister Md Abdul Halim and Advocate Ishrat Hasan placed the newspaper report before the High Court bench for necessary orders.