HC orders to give internet connection to Canadian citizen

FE REPORT

The High Court on Sunday directed the parents of a Bangladeshi-descent Canadian citizen to give internet connection to her laptop and give her opportunity to use mobile phone.

The High Court bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice S M Maniruzzaman issued the order after hearing a writ petition filed over challenging the legality of detaining an adult Canadian female citizen by her parents in Dhaka.

Two rights organizations-Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) and Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK)--filed the petition on April 5 this year.

In the writ petition, the organizations said the Canadian citizen was being held by her parents in their custody for over 10 months without lawful authority.

Upon hearing the writ petition, the High Court on April 5 asked the police to produce the Canadian citizen in the court on April 10. Complying with the court order, Mugda police produced her in the court on Sunday.

The court then heard from the parties. The court also said it will pass final order on the issue on April 12 and until then the young lady will stay with her parents.

The court asked the petitioners to include the Canadian High Commission in the petition as a party.

The court also said, "Parents need to build friendly relationship with their children. An adult child cannot be coerced into any matter."

Addressing the parents of the Canadian citizen the court said, "She wants to go to Canada and study there. The parents have to create the opportunity for that and the doors should not be closed."

According to the petition, the Canadian citizen came to the country on May 28 in 2021 and since then she has been kept confined by her parents in a house located at Mugda area in Dhaka as her parents do not want to send her abroad anymore.

bikashju@gmail.com