Amid the spate of offensive activities committed by under-aged youth in the country, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the authorities concerned to deal with the juvenile gangs from different perspectives.

“Adopt different approaches in addressing the juvenile gangs staying aside from conventional methods employed for adult criminals,” the prime minister came up with the instruction while she was chairing the cabinet meeting on Monday.

During the meeting held at his office in Dhaka, the Prime Minister also the guardians, teachers, local public representatives, and social opinion leaders to actively participate in addressing the issue through alternative approaches.

After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain briefed the reporters at the secretariat this afternoon.

“Handle the juvenile delinquents keeping in mind that they are citizens of the country and future of the nation,” Hossain said, quoting the prime minister.

She also directed the law enforcement agencies not to mix them up with habitual adult criminals and to adopt a counseling system aimed at their mental correction, Hossain said.

“Juvenile offenders should not be labeled as criminals for a long period. They deserve opportunities for self-correction. They should not be housed with other accused in jail,” the cabinet secretary quoting the prime minister.

The prime minister also instructed the social welfare minister to undertake a project to deal with the issue, Hossain said.