HC allows 2 girls to stay with Bangladeshi father

The High Court on Sunday ruled that the two children of Bangladeshi-born US citizen Imran Sharif and Japanese mother Nakano Erico will stay with their father.

Mother Eriko can exclusively meet the daughters, aged 11 and 10, three times a year for 10 days at a time and Imran will bear her travel and accommodation expenses, said the court.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman delivered the ruling until a writ petition by the mother is fully disposed, reports United News of Bangladesh.

If Eriko wants to meet her children beyond the court-prescribed time she has do it at her own expenses, the court said.

Imran Sharif was also instructed to allow the children to talk to their mother in video calls twice a month on holidays.

Following the writ petition, the High Court also ordered Imran Sharif to give Tk 10 lakh to Eriko for the expenses she incurred to travel to Dhaka and stay here within seven days.

The social service officer concerned has been directed to continue monitor the development regarding the children and submit a report to the Registrar of the High Court on the issue of children every three months.

However, the high court has rejected the writ petition filed by father Imran Sharif seeking directions to produce his youngest daughter, who is in Japan.

Earlier on October 31, the court fixed the date to deliver the verdict after concluding hearing on the petition.

On July 18, Eriko 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.

On August 31, the HC directed the authorities concerned to shift the two children of Imran and Eriko to a residence at the capital’s Gulshan from the victim support to ensure their welfare and a family environment for them.

On September 16, the High Court directed the concerned lawyers to settle the custodial dispute between Imran and mother Nakano of their children within 12 days.