Staff Reporter :
The Dhaka Central Jail authorities on Sunday said they received court directives asking them to take measures for treatment of photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol but he cannot
be treated outside the jail premises due to the ongoing pandemic. “The court has ordered to take steps for his treatment. There is a hospital inside the jail and he is being treated there accordingly,” Mahbubul Islam, jailer at Dhaka Central Jail, told the media on Saturday night.
When asked about possible treatment plans outside, the jailer said “You can understand the current situation. There is no scope to admit anyone in hospitals outside the jail premises due to coronavirus. If there is any major health problem and the jail doctor thinks it is needed, then we can think about it.”
Asked about Kajol’s health condition, the jailer said he can’t comment on this and only the doctor can speak of such matters.
Dhaka Central Jail has two doctors. Among them, Mahmudul Hasan Shuvo, chief doctor at the Dhaka Central Jail told this newspaper that he was infected with coronavirus and right now is on leave. “I don’t know any updates about journalist Kajol,” he said.
One of the prison guards wishing anonymity said “Earlier 15-20 inmates used to take treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital per day.”
But as of Saturday, there were only two inmates admitted at DMCH. The inmates with only major problems will be sent outside jail for treatment, he said.
Meanwhile Kajol’s son Monorom Polok said unable to find any scope of meeting his father, he ended up talking to him over phone around two weeks back. Kajol told his son that he was unwell.
“He said that his left arm has become paralysed and he can’t do anything using that hand. He is also frequently vomiting, sometimes with blood,” Polok said.
Kajol’s family later contacted the lawyer and appealed to the court for medical treatment for Kajol. The court responded to the request and directed the jail authorities to comply.
“But the authorities are still keeping my father in jail, not even admitting him to any hospital for better treatment,” Polok added.
Kajol has been in Dhaka Central Jail after being arrested in cases under the Digital Security Act.
Expressing deep concern over the jail authorities’ slackness, the rights body Ain O Salish Kendra said despite giving instructions, the prison authorities have not yet taken any action for Kajol’s treatment.
Kajol has been kept in jail for almost three months in controversial cases during the coronavirus pandemic.
The rights body demanded immediate medical treatment and immediate release of the imprisoned journalist.
Fifty-three days into his disappearance, Kajol was found by Border Guard Bangladesh in Benapole of Jashore on May 3. He was then arrested initially on charges of trespassing, but was granted bail by a Jashore court.
Later in the evening, he was shown held under section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure after police informed the court that three more cases under the Digital Security Act (DSA) against Kajol were pending with different police stations in the capital.
The court then sent him to Jashore Jail. Later, he was shifted to the jail in Keraniganj.
The Dhaka Central Jail authorities on Sunday said they received court directives asking them to take measures for treatment of photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol but he cannot
be treated outside the jail premises due to the ongoing pandemic. “The court has ordered to take steps for his treatment. There is a hospital inside the jail and he is being treated there accordingly,” Mahbubul Islam, jailer at Dhaka Central Jail, told the media on Saturday night.
When asked about possible treatment plans outside, the jailer said “You can understand the current situation. There is no scope to admit anyone in hospitals outside the jail premises due to coronavirus. If there is any major health problem and the jail doctor thinks it is needed, then we can think about it.”
Asked about Kajol’s health condition, the jailer said he can’t comment on this and only the doctor can speak of such matters.
Dhaka Central Jail has two doctors. Among them, Mahmudul Hasan Shuvo, chief doctor at the Dhaka Central Jail told this newspaper that he was infected with coronavirus and right now is on leave. “I don’t know any updates about journalist Kajol,” he said.
One of the prison guards wishing anonymity said “Earlier 15-20 inmates used to take treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital per day.”
But as of Saturday, there were only two inmates admitted at DMCH. The inmates with only major problems will be sent outside jail for treatment, he said.
Meanwhile Kajol’s son Monorom Polok said unable to find any scope of meeting his father, he ended up talking to him over phone around two weeks back. Kajol told his son that he was unwell.
“He said that his left arm has become paralysed and he can’t do anything using that hand. He is also frequently vomiting, sometimes with blood,” Polok said.
Kajol’s family later contacted the lawyer and appealed to the court for medical treatment for Kajol. The court responded to the request and directed the jail authorities to comply.
“But the authorities are still keeping my father in jail, not even admitting him to any hospital for better treatment,” Polok added.
Kajol has been in Dhaka Central Jail after being arrested in cases under the Digital Security Act.
Expressing deep concern over the jail authorities’ slackness, the rights body Ain O Salish Kendra said despite giving instructions, the prison authorities have not yet taken any action for Kajol’s treatment.
Kajol has been kept in jail for almost three months in controversial cases during the coronavirus pandemic.
The rights body demanded immediate medical treatment and immediate release of the imprisoned journalist.
Fifty-three days into his disappearance, Kajol was found by Border Guard Bangladesh in Benapole of Jashore on May 3. He was then arrested initially on charges of trespassing, but was granted bail by a Jashore court.
Later in the evening, he was shown held under section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure after police informed the court that three more cases under the Digital Security Act (DSA) against Kajol were pending with different police stations in the capital.
The court then sent him to Jashore Jail. Later, he was shifted to the jail in Keraniganj.
