Reading books, planting trees instead of jail term

If a person is found guilty of a crime, he is normally fined and sent to prison. But what if the convict is sentenced to a correctional period of planting trees, reading books, or watching movies instead of serving jail term?

Such an incident took place in Magura with a young man named Ibrahim from Mohammadpur upazila in the district. 

He was convicted of domestic violence and sentenced to reading books, watching movies and planting trees instead of serving six months' jail term. 

The court has granted him this convenience upon a set of conditions. 

The exceptional verdict was delivered by Mohammad Ziaur Rahman of the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court of Magura on February 2.

"A woman named Shaila Akhtar was injured in September 2017 following a family dispute in Harekrishnapur village," said Public Prosecutor Syed Amir Ali.

In this connection, Shaila's son, Mohammad Rocky, filed a case at Mohammadpur Police Station, accusing Ibrahim, Kamal Hossain and China Begum of the same village. 

Kamal and China were acquitted as allegations against them were not proved in the investigation. 

On the other hand, the court granted Ibrahim a correctional probation period of a year instead of applying Section 324 of the Penal Code that carries a six-month jail sentence to a domestic abuser.

The correctional period, however, comes with seven conditions which must be met by Ibrahim under the supervision of a probation officer. 

The convict must not be involved in any form of crime or commit any other type of crime during the probation period, maintain peace and be well-behaved with everyone and be present immediately when called upon by the court and law enforcement agencies.

The other conditions are the convict must not use any form of drug or drug-based substances, keep good company, read two books on the Liberation War – Ekattorer Dingulee by Jahanara Imam and Ekattorer Chithi, a collection of letters from freedom fighters – read two more books on Islam and morality and watch the movie Aguner Poroshmoni.

During the course of probation, the convict will plant two forestry and three fruiting plants as an act of responsible towards the environment. 

If the convict breaches any of the conditions, or if his conduct is not satisfactory, his probation order will be revoked and the regular judicial sentence of six months' jail sentence will be imposed. 

The probation officer has to submit a report on the compliance and progress of the convict every three months.