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Juvenile Delinquency: A Study on the Juvenile Development Centre, Tongi,

Gazipur, Bangladesh

Research · May 2015

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.3067.7923

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Juvenile Delinquency: A Study on the Juvenile Development Centre,
Tongi, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Md. Kaoser Bin Siddique, Md. Ferdous Hossain, Farhana Kashemi, Md. Rafiqul Islam, Tusar
Alam Mirdha.

Correspondence to: Md. Kaoser Bin Siddique, Email:kaoserbd@gmail.com, Student, James P.

Grant School of Public Health, BIGH, Level-06, ICDDR’B Building, Mohakhali.

Abstract: Juvenile delinquency is the rapidly growing problem in Bangladesh, however, to

address this problem there are a little attention in both government and NGO sector. This is a
small step to discover the problem. We used qualitative case study method and focus group
discussion to identify the most common nature of the juvenile delinquency and its extent. In this
study, we revealed number of interrelated reason to escalate juvenile delinquency in Bangladesh.
First of all, dysfunctional family relationship has been seen as a major reason to involve in
delinquency. The second most reason is poverty which inter-related with the dysfunctional
family. In addition to that, availability of drug is seen one of the important cause of linking with
deflecting path. Furthermore, influences of peer group are another driver of involving with
juvenile delinquency.

Introduction: activities which really matter of great

concern for every nation specially
Delinquency refers to behavior by youths
developing country like Bangladesh. There
under 18 years of the age which is not
is no doubt Juvenile Development Centre is
acceptable to society and is generally
playing a crucial role to shape up the
regarded as calling for some kind of
younger and future generation of our
admonishment, punishment, or corrective
country. The general objective of this study
action. Delinquency has become a cause for
is to understand the nature of juvenile
national concern not only on our own
delinquency in context of Bangladesh and
society but in most modern countries
the specific objectives of the study are: to
throughout the world. Due to
know the socioeconomic and demographic
industrialization the growing number of
profile of respondents, identify the causes of
children is involving with the criminal
Juvenile Delinquents, know the activities data. In our study case study has been
provided by the Juvenile Development presented in respondents perspective, focus
Centre and its effectiveness, examine the group discussion and other observation
impact of the programs in correcting displayed in descriptive and explorative
Juvenile Delinquents and identify the way. We organized and prepare the data for
limitations of the programs run by Juvenile analyzing by means of transcribing
Development Centre interviews, typing field notes or storing and
arranging on the basis of source of
Methodology:
information.
The study followed the case study research
approach and conducted at Juvenile Case Study 01:
Development Centre, Tongi, Gazipur,
Rimon (fake name) is a 14 years old boy,
Dhaka, Bangladesh. Population of the study
lives at Amulia Model Town, Demra,
were the juvenile delinquents children who
Dhaka, his father Masum (34) completed
were receiving service from the Juvenile
SSC is small businessman. His monthly
Development Centre, Tongi, Gazipur and
income was Ten thousand taka and mother
each of the recipients of the organization has
Doly (28) completed SSC is a housewife,
been considered as a unit or case of the
he has one brother and sister. When he was
analysis. We have used purposive
studying in class three while his father left
convenient sampling. Parents and service
his mother and got another marry since then
providers of juvenile delinquents have been
he had to work to support his mother and
taken as key informants. We have used
siblings. Initially he started his carrier as a
multiple methods of data collection such as
Laguna (A small passenger carrying bus)
case study, face to face interviews with
Conductor. According to him, he used to
interview checklist, focus group discussion
steal money for watching movie, eating and
and non participant observation. In addition,
buying fancy things like his counterparts
we have also collected data from secondary
who are from richer family but one day he
sources by reviewing literature such a
caught red handed by his employer and bet
official reports, rules and regulations,
him up for stealing money, though he
working paper, study report, newspaper etc.
continued this stealing up to one year. The
We used qualitative methods for analyzing
other day, Emon has been asked to work
with a local snatcher who snatches mobile
phone, gold chain, valuable ornaments,
watch, wallet and other daily necessary
accessories. Even after few days later, he
started stealing from the residence through
breakdown the door-lock. And, like this
trend was gradually continuing upward to
robbing, blackmailing, girls and women
supplying to rich people, Yaba trafficking
and so forth. He worked with a large gang
which backed by some VIPs in our society.
Their group made up of different
professional like, police, journalist,
politicians and others. Emon used to live in
a luxury flat with boss and his boss’s wife
and two fellow girls, who blackmailed rich
people by putting Yaba inside their pocket
or through mobile phone calling them to
have pleasure and then blackmail by help of
police and publishing in on
respectively. According to his statement, he
loved one of his fellow girls and he
sometime used to sleep with her and wanted
to come back in his normal life with that girl
but his boss is not allowing him because he
has become very skilled at wrong-doing.
Therefore, he has been sent to jail and
finally jail authority sent him at JDC, Tongi,
Gazipur. Now, at this centre he is studying
in class three and loves to play football and
cricket. He thinks this organization is very
helpful for children like him who wants to
return in normal life except some problems
like dirty bed sheet, skin diseases,
harassment by senior and drug addicted
inmates, lack of sufficient food and snacks.
Therefore he recommends increasing
number of skilled stuff including doctor,
clinical social worker, and psychologist for
better supervision and services.
Furthermore, he wants more education and
awareness about this condition that people
do not hate them.
Case Study 02:
Nizam is a 14 years old boy from
Sunamgonj district his father Abul Hossain
(42) is small businessman. His monthly
income was Seven thousand taka and mother
Shirin (31) is a housewife, he has two
line
sisters. He was working as a salesman. He
has many friends and love to hang out with
friend. Once one of his close friend Robin
borrowed some money from him and make a
commitment that he would return it by 15
days. However, days and months go on but
his friend do not return the borrowing
money. Many times Nizam asked him for
the money but his friend denied to pay the
money and then Nizam lost his temper and
started fighting with him. During fighting
sudden a police came and arrested them for
the fighting in the public place. Afterwards,
he has been sent to jail and finally jail
authority sent him at JDC, Tongi, Gazipur.
Now, at this centre he is learning electric
work under the Trade of Electronics and
loves to play football and cricket. He thinks
this organization is very helpful for children
like him who wants to return in normal life
except some problems like dirty bed sheet,
skin diseases, lack of sufficient food and
snacks. Therefore he recommends
increasing number of skilled stuff including
doctor, clinical social worker, and
psychologist for better supervision and
services. Furthermore, he wants more
education and awareness about this
condition that people do not hate them.
Case Study 03:
Sharif is a worker at Shoe factory and lives
in Kamrangirchor along with his parents.
His parents monthly income was Seven
thousand taka He is 13 years old boy. He has
two brothers and one sister. He is second in
position among his siblings. His father is
day labor and mother is housewife. He has
many local friends & used to travel with his
friend. Once he went to a tour with some of
his friend and met with a stranger. The
stranger offered them a good job if they
want and go with him. Thinking some time
they started travel with him and at the mid
way police caught them and brought them at
the nearby police station and they have been
told by the police that the stranger was a
hijacker.
Now, at this centre he is working in
automobile section under the Trade of
Automobile and loves to play football and
cricket. He thinks this organization is very
helpful for children like him who wants to
return in normal life except some problems
like dirty bed sheet, skin diseases, lack of
sufficient food and snacks. Therefore he
recommends increasing number of skilled
stuff including doctor, clinical social
worker, and psychologist for better
supervision and services. Furthermore, he
wants more education and awareness about
this condition that people do not hate them.
Case Study 04:
Shagor, he is from Shajadpur, Sirajgonj and
16 years old. He was a Secondary School
Certificate (SSC) examinee. His father name
is shafiz Uddin 46 years old farmer. His
monthly income was Sixteenth thousand
taka and his mother Salma Begum, 40 years
old a housewife. He has two sisters and their
age is 6 years and 04 years respectively.
According to his statement due to poverty of
his family he was always felt inferiority
complex than his friends whom with he
studies and play. He was always finding the
way how he can earn lot of money in a
simple and shorter way. I used to steal
money from my father and mother. They
were four friends going to school, taking
cigarettes, teasing girls, bullying classmates
together. It was common and enjoyable
things to them. Sometime, I was smoking
cigarette with Ganza (cigarette with
cannabis) along with some of my friends.
However, one day one of elder brother
offered us that if you carry a bag from
Sirajgonj to Jamuna bridge then he will give
them 15000 BD Taka. Not only that but also
in future they will get a lot of money after
successfully completion of the first task.
They really did not know actually what was
inside that bag. Just they were carrying the
bag because of the money and they were
planning to buy a cricket bat for playing.
Suddenly, police came and arrested them
with three Italian pistol & loaded
magazines. Since then is here. It has been
long time about 1.5 years.
Now, at this centre he is working in
automobile section under the Trade of
Automobile and loves to play football and
cricket. He thinks this organization is good
for children like him except some problems
like disturbance of senior inmates and drug
addicted mates, dirty bed sheet, skin
diseases, lack of sufficient food and snacks.
Therefore he recommends increasing
number of skilled stuff including doctor,
clinical social worker, and psychologist for
better supervision and services.
Furthermore, he wants more education and
awareness about this condition that people
do not hate them.
Case Study 05:
Md. Khorshed Alam (Fake Name) is a
vegetable seller at Karwan Bazar and lives
in Kamrangirchor along with his parents.
His parents income was Eleven thousand
taka He is a 15 years old boy. He has two
brothers. He is second in position among his
siblings. His father is a rickshaw puller and
mother is maid servant. Once one of his
friend Rana who also was doing business
with him at Karwan Bazae Kacha Market
borrowed 5000 money from him and make a
commitment that he would return it by 15
days. However, days and months go on but
his friend do not return the borrowing
money. On October 07, 2013 they were
carrying vegetable from Tongi to kamlapur
by train. they were on the roof as this
chiefand do not charge train fare. Suddenly
they started quarrling when Khorshed asked
for returning money even Rana refused
taking money. Aftermath, absentmindedly
he felt down from roof and died on spot
afterthat he was arrested by Rail way police
at Komlapur Railway Station. Afterwards,
he has been sent to jail and finally jail
authority sent him at JDC, Tongi, Gazipur.
Now, at this centre he is working in
automobile section under the Trade of
Automobile and loves to play football and
cricket. He thinks this organization is very
helpful for children like him who wants to
return in normal life except some problems
like dirty bed sheet, skin diseases, lack of
sufficient food and snacks. Therefore he
recommends increasing number of skilled
stuff including doctor, clinical social
worker, and psychologist for better
supervision and services. Furthermore, he
wants more education and awareness about
this condition that people do not hate them.
Case Study 06:
Md. Sohel Mia is a 14 years old student of
class seven, lives in Arayhazar,
Narayongonj along with his parents. His
father is a shukkur ali (42) His monthly
income was Nine thousand taka and mother
is a Alea Khatun (32) both are farmer. He
has two brothers and a sister. According to
seniority his position is second. He was a
second boy in his class and wanted to be a
teacher. But, now he is in JDC for doing
nothing wrong. He stated that, His father
involved in local politics and by profession
he was doing log wood business.
One day in the evening he had been arrested
by police accused of involving vandalized
private properties of nearby shop owners
although Sohel was in school that time when
shop and other private properties has been
vandalized by some miscreants. As far as he
recalled that the day was on November 15,
2013. Aftermath, he was in prison 2 days.
And then he appealed to the court for bail
but in vain. Then court sent him at this
centre.
He was simply a student & never involved
in politics instead he hates politics. He
thinks It was actually happened for his
father as opposition group of his father
wanted to harm his father and they chose
him as a weapon to punish his father.
Though it was false case but people & my
inmates in JDC think that he is a bad guy as
he is a little boy how it was possible to him
to do that kind of arson or vendalised in
public place. For intance , yeasterday during
monthly parents visiting time, his mother about arranging proper treatment specially
said him that some neighbours have made ill for scabbies or skin diseases, maintaining
of her about this matter even some of his proper and nutritous food menu for inmates,
school teachers also. and more flexibility to meet with
guardian/parents/family members, develop
Now, at this centre he is working in
immidiate punishment system who involve
automobile section under the Trade of
wrong activities in room. Furthermore, he
Automobile and loves to play football and
wants more skilled law enforcer and
cricket. He thinks it is a great work in
advocates that they can identify the real
supporting Juvenile Delinquency. for
criminal instead of arresting innocent
example some of my inmate who was
people.
involved in some heinious activities (Drug
abuse/violence against child & Case Study 07:

woman,kidnapping etc) in their area. Now Md. Zobaer Hossain, a 17 years old boy, he
they remorse themselves how it was the is from Shilbunia, Tennaf . He was a student
worst activities. Now they regulerly advised of class Nine. His father name is Alim
& fostering by psychiatric social case Uddin, 39 years old farmer. His income was
worker, social caseworker and as well as Twelve thousand taka and his mother
involve in many vocational trade training in Halima Begum, 35 years old a housewife.
agency.They also involve reguler sports & He has a brother and sister and their age is
games, watching televission, taking differnt 12 years and 09 years respectively.
kinds of psychological therapy, schooling,
According to his statement, after getting
punctuality, well dicsiplinity, positive admission at high school he was stealing
behaviour change maintaining homogenious money from his father some time uncle and
mentality I think above mention activities aunt for pocket money. He had many local
will help for correction of juvenile friends taking drugs regularly. He was
delinquents. involved in politics, political elder brother

He also thinks his inmates are not helpful, so was encouraging and giving him total

need behavirial training for senior inmates, support for doing anything. He was fond of

so that, they accepted new inmate cordially. fancy electronics goods like as smart phone,

In addition to that, authority might think motorbike etc. Besides, most of my friend,
senior brother and neighbors who were Results:
involving with Yaba business, where lots of
Most of the children were between 13-17
money. And from the early age of his
years of age group. The average number of
schooling he was staying with friends who
family members was 4-6 and level of
are habituated in substance abuse as drug
education was below standard. This study
was available at that border area. Also, he
reveals a number of causes to involve in
was feeling lonely in the family as his
juvenile delinquency. First of all,
parents were always quarreling, their
dysfunctional family relationship has been
relation was not good. And day by day he
seen as a major reason to involve in
was going with those friends and taking
delinquency. There are different pattern of
those things. Even he started business with
dysfunctional family such as, divorce or
them and dreaming for being a rich man in a
broken family, re-marriage, addicted
short time. Now he thinks society do not like
parents, working parents and etc. The
him as he is a criminal and badv guy.
second most reason is poverty which inter-
Now, at this centre he is learning electric related with the dysfunctional family which
work under the Trade of Electronics and is also supported by service providers at
loves to play football and cricket. He thinks Juvenile Development Centre (JDC). In
this organization is very helpful for children addition to that, availability of drug is seen
like him who wants to return in normal life one of the important cause of linking with
except some problems like dirty bed sheet, deflecting path. Furthermore, influences of
skin diseases, lack of sufficient food and peer group are another driver of involving
snacks. Therefore he recommends with juvenile delinquency. There are
increasing number of skilled stuff including different services that are currently
doctor, clinical social worker, and providing from shelter to rehabilitation
psychologist for better supervision and training and most of the children are happy
services. Furthermore, he wants more with the services and half of them have
education and awareness about this already returned back in their normal life..
condition that people do not hate them.
We arranged one FGD with service
provider. According to one senior case
worker availability of drugs and influence of
peer group is the prime cause of juvenile
delinquency. On the other hand, one female
Psychiatric social worker thinks
dysfunctional family relationship can be the
major cause which is supported another
practitioner she also thinks that, poverty,
habitat problem, illiteracy are the first line
causes of dysfunctional family relationship
that lead to juvenile delinquency. To answer
a question regarding children’s
involvement with the crime, they are
convicted, service providers think more or
less 90 percent are really involved and
showed delinquent behavior in their early
life, which was really contradictory to our
findings as children always stigmatized to
deny their involvement with the crime. In
terms of effectiveness of service 50-60
percent children are leading better life after
get rid of this organization. About the
weakness of the organization they agree that
food and treatment facilities are not
sufficient. Therefore authority should
concentrate on this issue.
Discussion:
The study has presented number of distinct
but interrelated themes: poverty, illiteracy,
dysfunctional family, influence of peer
group, lack of implementation of theoretical
knowledge, failure to make child friendly
policy and as well as proper monitoring &
evaluation of existing programs because of a
that small number of stuff. This section focuses
on specific findings in the study and
draws upon relevant literature to
understand and analyze the themes.
It has found that most of the children
attended school. In this area, there is an
improvement over the study conducted in
real
2008 when 41% were found to have not
attended school at all (Actionaid, Under
Aged Prison inmates in Bangladesh, 2008).
Out of whole of the inmate population, the
representation of the Dhaka Metropolitan
area is more than other part of the country
The important charges/complaints against
the inmates were theft , murder ( according
to respondents false case), drug related
offence and possession of illegal arms.
Situation regarding other offences remained
almost static. The inmates of Correctional
Homes have been staying for a period of
more than 3 months (almost 50%).
Major occupations of the inmates were
student, factory labor, automobile workshop
workers. Occupations of father were mainly
farmer, small businessman, rickshaw puller.
In case of mother most of them are
housewife running their small business.
Average family size is 5 persons. Average
number of siblings is about three. During the whole, the attitude of the inmates was still
study conjugal relations between the parents found to be remorseful.
of the inmates were not found very
Conclusion:
satisfactory. Of the parents living together
Approximately one–third population of our
were often quarrelling. Almost all the
country is adolescence and they are
respondents had informal friends.
definitely at stake specially in the low socio-
Average age in both the cases is 14 years. economic families children due to lack of
Habitual theft, extortions, group venture, fulfilling their fundamental needs.
possession of illegal arms/explosives, sex Therefore, this is high time to emphasize on
perversion, suspect in murder cases were this sector for continuing sustainable
stated to be the first offence by the inmates. development by making as well as
In JDC skin diseases, particularly scabies implementing adolescence friendly policies.
are widespread. As regards this disease, Acknowledgement: We would like to
there is no improvement over the past. acknowledge the relentless support of
During 2003, this percentage was 88.23% Shahana Nasrin, research supervisor, Dr.
and in 2008 it was almost same (Action aid, Tania Rahman, field supervisor, S. M.
Under Aged Prison inmates in Bangladesh, Anowarul Karim, agency supervisor. Also, it
2008). It may be mentioned that RPOWAB is also a matter great pleasure to admit all
provides regular treatment to the juvenile the support from our mentors professor
inmates free of cost (Actionaid, Under Aged Tahmina Akter, our honorable course
Prison inmates in Bangladesh, 2008). coordinator, Dr. Shahin Khan, Sheikh
Medical attention to the inmates needs to be Tauhidul Islam as well as other guest
improved further. Visits by the guardians teacher such as Dr. Mohit Kamal, Jhunu
often created problem in this aspect. On the Shamsun Nahar et al. who have been a great
inspiration for us.
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