Bring back 72 children held in India: HC

The High Court (HC) on Thursday asked the government to bring back home 72 children held at different shelter homes in India. Passing the interim suo moto order, an HC division bench comprising Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice KM Ejarul Haque Akondo also issued rule upon the government to explain in three weeks as to why the order should not be given to take necessary measures to bring back the children illegally held in India. The HC also asked the Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata to explain through the Attorney General as to why steps have not been taken so far in this regard. The HC came up with the orders as two lawyers drew attention of the bench to a report published in a daily, headlined ‘72 children held in India want to return’. According to the report, 72 children -- both boys and girls -- were arrested by the Indian Borders Security Force (BSF) and police while being smuggled to West Bengal from Bangladesh at different times for the last two years, according to a news agency.