A Bangladeshi court has sent 14-year-old schoolboy Md. Rimon, a Class 10 student at Char Mehar Azizia High School in Ramgati upazila of Lakshmipur district, to jail after he was produced before a judge in a case registered under the country's Anti-Terrorism Act, according to local media reports. The development, which came to light on 5 August, has drawn sharp condemnation from the Awami League, which accused authorities of weaponising anti-terror legislation against a minor.

How the Case Unfolded

Police arrested Rimon from the Char Mehar area on the afternoon of 2 August, according to case documents cited by Bangladeshi outlet NTV Online. The original case statement, however, identified him as 'Bachchu Prakash Ripon' and recorded his age as 19 years — details that reportedly did not match his birth certificate. The investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Mizanur Rahman, subsequently corrected the name and revised the recorded age to 13 years, 11 months and 29 days when the case was submitted to court.

The underlying case was filed on 4 June by Ramgati Police Station Sub-Inspector Moynal Hossain against 12 individuals, including Rimon, on charges of disrupting public safety and law and order. It stems from an incident on 30 May, when leaders and activists of the Awami League's student wing, Chhatra League, gathered at the Madhya Purba Alexander Government Primary School and Multipurpose Disaster Shelter in Char Algi Union, held a brief procession, raised slogans, and recorded a video of the event.

Bail Rejected, Minor Sent to Jail

Defence lawyer Abdur Rob Sumon confirmed that a humanitarian bail application filed on Rimon's behalf was rejected by the court. 'The boy is very young; he is not yet old enough to be involved in politics. According to his birth certificate, he is 14 years and 2 months old. We had filed a humanitarian bail application in court on his behalf, but the judge rejected it,' Sumon said, as reported by NTV Online.

The discrepancy between the name and age recorded in the initial police case and those on the minor's birth certificate has raised questions about procedural rigour in the arrest and documentation process.

Awami League Condemns Arrest as 'Abuse of Power'

The Awami League issued a strongly worded statement condemning the jailing, describing it as an 'abuse of power' and 'blatant interference in the justice system.' The party alleged that the Anti-Terrorism Act was being used as a 'political weapon' to imprison a tenth-grade student.

'By disregarding children's rights, the rule of law, and even the most basic human rights, the police administration, backed by those in power, is pushing the country toward extreme disorder. The incident involving 14-year-old schoolboy Rimon in Ramgati, Lakshmipur, is a terrifying reflection of this reality,' the party stated. It further alleged that 'ignoring his birth certificate, falsely recording his name and age, and subjecting a minor to repression without even the minimum legal review demonstrate that the current administration is suffering from political bankruptcy.'

Broader Context and What Comes Next

The case has drawn attention to concerns about the use of broad anti-terror provisions against individuals — including minors — in contexts that critics argue are political rather than security-related. This is not the first time Bangladesh's Anti-Terrorism Act has faced scrutiny for its application in cases involving political affiliations. Rights groups have previously flagged the law's wide scope as susceptible to misuse.

With the bail application already rejected, Rimon's legal team is expected to pursue further remedies. The case is likely to intensify political tensions between the Awami League and the current administration, and may draw scrutiny from child rights organisations operating in Bangladesh.