Juvenile Justice System in Bangladesh: A Critical Overview

Abstract

The juvenile justice system plays a pivotal role in ensuring that children in conflict with the law are treated in a manner consistent with their age, development, and rights. This thesis critically examines the juvenile justice framework of Bangladesh in light of national laws, institutional practices, and international standards such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the Beijing Rules. While Bangladesh has enacted progressive legislation, most notably the Children Act, 2013, practical implementation remains inconsistent and often punitive rather than rehabilitative. Through a comprehensive review of literature, theoretical analysis, legal framework, and institutional mechanisms, the study identifies significant challenges such as unlawful arrests, prolonged detentions, lack of diversion programs, and social stigma. The thesis highlights how insufficient infrastructure, untrained personnel, and poor coordination between law enforcement, the judiciary, and correctional institutions hinder the realization of child-friendly justice. A comparative analysis with India, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand reveals alternative models emphasizing restorative justice, diversion, and community-based rehabilitation. Drawing on these insights, the study recommends legal reforms, institutional capacity building, and increased community engagement to make Bangladesh’s juvenile justice system more effective, equitable, and aligned with global norms. This research contributes to the academic discourse by integrating legal, social, and philosophical perspectives and proposes a path forward those centers on child rights, dignity, and rehabilitation. It calls for a paradigm shift from punitive control to restorative care, ensuring justice for every child in conflict with the law.