The High Court (HC) allowed Japanese children Jasmine Malika and Laila Lina to stay with their Bangladeshi-American father Sharif Imran. The High Court announced the verdict on Sunday. This is the first verdict of the Bangladesh High Court on the children of two citizens of the two countries.
The High Court bench of Justice Md. Mostafizur Rahman and Justice M Enayetur Rahim’s bench passed the verdict.
If the mother wants, she will be able to meet and stay with her children, the HC also said.
It said the 48-year-old mother Erico Nakano can stay with her children for ten days every three months.
Besides, the HC rejected another writ filed by the father. However, the writ filed by the mother would continue.
Erico’s former husband 58-year-old Sharif Imran will have to bear the travel cost of her visits from and to Japan.
The mother will have to bear her own costs if she stays longer with her kids.
The HC also ordered Sharif Imran to pay Erico Nakano Tk 10 lakh as the expenses of her travel and stay in Bangladesh over the past few months.
The HC will also release the details of the full verdict soon.
On July 18, Eriko, a doctor based in Tokyo, came to Bangladesh and filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking a directive on Imran to hand over the two children to her custody.
On August 19, the HC bench directed Imran to produce his daughters before it on August 31. But before that, the Criminal Investigation Department of Police took the children into their custody on August 22.
On August 23, the HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman said the girls will remain at the centre till the August 31 hearing.
On September 16, the High Court gave the responsibility to lawyers concerned for an amicable settlement to the domestic disputes between Imran Sharif and Eriko Nakano, as they could not reach any solution.
