Arifur Rahman Rabbi :
A prisoner came out from the Gazipur’s Kashimpur-2 jail crossing the wall border at noon with a ladder in August last year.
Less than six months of the previous incident, another prisoner had the opportunity to spend intimate time with an outside woman in the neighboring Kashimpur-1 jail in exchange for a large sum of money. Later, it becomes talk of the country.
Not only this, corruption is going on almost in all jails across the country. Everything, including drugs, are available in the jail in exchange of money.
Different reliable sources and media reports said that many prison officials and guards are involved in drug trafficking. They have long been accused of trading in canteen food and prisoners’ visitors, extorting money by torturing prisoners, and allowing inmates to use mobile phones and laptops.
Prison officials are building a mountain of illegal assets by allowing irregularities. Some senior jail officials have also been caught with bags full of money. Their trial is ongoing. But it could not stop them from committing crimes in exchange of money.
Most recently, the jail officials’ irregularities have been brought to light by providing special treatment to the Hallmark Group’s GM Tushar Ahmed in spending time with a female inside the jail in violation of the prison manual.
Kashimpur jail part-1 Senior Jail Superintendent Ratna Roy has submitted a report to the Inspector General of Prison without mentioning anything about her involvement.
She said that Tushar paid Tk 1 lakh to then jailer, Tk 25,000 to deputy jailer and Tk 5,000 to sergeant instructor and chief assistant jail guard. She said in the report that the jailer did it without informing her.
The authorities have withdrawn five jail officials, including two top ones in the incident. And two separate investigation committees are investigating the incident.
According to the prison rules, prison guards can arrange meeting between a prisoner and a visitor with the permission of the jail authorities. But no prisoner has the opportunity to spend time alone.
Relatives have to meet within the allotted time. At that time, it is also checked whether there is anything illegal things with them.
Additional Inspector General of Prisons Colonel Abrar Hossain told The New Nation over cell phone on Monday that the incident was being investigated. It will be clear when we will get the investigation report.
About the irregularities and corruption, he also said that they regularly visit prisons. They take immediate action if they see any kind of irregularity or corruption.
Seeking anonymity some of the prisoners who were released from the jail said that if they paid money, everything would go well in the jail. Otherwise, it is difficult to survive there. The prison guard provide good accommodation in exchange of money. Prison guards also provide good food, even drugs and cigarettes, if needed.
In July 2019, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) raided the house of DIG-Prisons Pertha Gopal Banik, who worked in the Chattogram and Sylhet ranges and now suspended, in Bhooter Goli area of Dhaka. An ACC team confiscated Tk 80 lakh during the operation. There are allegations that he earned this money through various irregularities and corruption. He is currently dismissed and under trail in court.
In addition, a prisoner of a murder case along with 11 officials of a business group conducted a meeting in Chattogram Central Jail in April 2016. The shocking incident took place in the conference room of the senior jail super.
Meanwhile, hospital and jail sources said that more than 50 accused in various cases are in the hospital showing various physical problems. Many of them have VIP benefits. They are undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, National Heart Institute, and Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital.
About the matter, Additional IG Prison Abrar Hossain said that the prisoners were admitted to different hospitals on the advice of the doctors of the prison hospital. If the doctor of the hospital does not give the discharge, the jail authorities have nothing to do.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told the Parliament on Thursday that the current prison capacity of 68 jails in Bangladesh is 42,450. There have been currently 82,654 prisoners in various jails. Among the prisoners, 79,454 are males and 3,200 females. This information is until January 18, 2021.
The Home Minister told various media outlets that in case of any kind of irregularity and corruption in the jail, they took action as per the rules.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman told The New Nation that another name for the jail is now irregularities and corruption. The effective way to stop such irregularities and corruption has never been taken. Exemplary punishment was also yet not noticed.
He thinks that the corrupt officials are not punished. They may be transferred or suspended. It is not a punishment. It remains to be seen whether the suspension will be lifted in a few days and the same will be done again with postings elsewhere, he added.
Iftekharuzzaman said that exemplary punishment must be ensured, especially for those in higher positions. Not only to pull the lower level employees. In addition, where have been source of illicit money through corruption, the ACC can take action.
Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua told The New Nation that the prison monitoring team is needed. But it needs to be an impartial and independent investigation to eradicate corruption and irregularities.
That is why it is necessary to form an independent commission. If this can be done then corruption will come down to a great extent, he added.
The former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Prisons, Shamsul Haider Siddique, told The New Nation that this corruption and irregularities were not created in a day. Those who do such things think that there is nothing wrong with them. That is why it is not addressed.
It is not possible to look after all these things in jail by only the IG prison. Everybody should cooperate from his or her respective labels. Stop lobbying from the top level. It is in the interest of the country and the prisons. Strict action must be taken against those who do wrong, he added.
“Monitoring inside jails needs to be accelerated under an independent commission. It can help improve the situation,” he further said.
A prisoner came out from the Gazipur’s Kashimpur-2 jail crossing the wall border at noon with a ladder in August last year.
Less than six months of the previous incident, another prisoner had the opportunity to spend intimate time with an outside woman in the neighboring Kashimpur-1 jail in exchange for a large sum of money. Later, it becomes talk of the country.
Not only this, corruption is going on almost in all jails across the country. Everything, including drugs, are available in the jail in exchange of money.
Different reliable sources and media reports said that many prison officials and guards are involved in drug trafficking. They have long been accused of trading in canteen food and prisoners’ visitors, extorting money by torturing prisoners, and allowing inmates to use mobile phones and laptops.
Prison officials are building a mountain of illegal assets by allowing irregularities. Some senior jail officials have also been caught with bags full of money. Their trial is ongoing. But it could not stop them from committing crimes in exchange of money.
Most recently, the jail officials’ irregularities have been brought to light by providing special treatment to the Hallmark Group’s GM Tushar Ahmed in spending time with a female inside the jail in violation of the prison manual.
Kashimpur jail part-1 Senior Jail Superintendent Ratna Roy has submitted a report to the Inspector General of Prison without mentioning anything about her involvement.
She said that Tushar paid Tk 1 lakh to then jailer, Tk 25,000 to deputy jailer and Tk 5,000 to sergeant instructor and chief assistant jail guard. She said in the report that the jailer did it without informing her.
The authorities have withdrawn five jail officials, including two top ones in the incident. And two separate investigation committees are investigating the incident.
According to the prison rules, prison guards can arrange meeting between a prisoner and a visitor with the permission of the jail authorities. But no prisoner has the opportunity to spend time alone.
Relatives have to meet within the allotted time. At that time, it is also checked whether there is anything illegal things with them.
Additional Inspector General of Prisons Colonel Abrar Hossain told The New Nation over cell phone on Monday that the incident was being investigated. It will be clear when we will get the investigation report.
About the irregularities and corruption, he also said that they regularly visit prisons. They take immediate action if they see any kind of irregularity or corruption.
Seeking anonymity some of the prisoners who were released from the jail said that if they paid money, everything would go well in the jail. Otherwise, it is difficult to survive there. The prison guard provide good accommodation in exchange of money. Prison guards also provide good food, even drugs and cigarettes, if needed.
In July 2019, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) raided the house of DIG-Prisons Pertha Gopal Banik, who worked in the Chattogram and Sylhet ranges and now suspended, in Bhooter Goli area of Dhaka. An ACC team confiscated Tk 80 lakh during the operation. There are allegations that he earned this money through various irregularities and corruption. He is currently dismissed and under trail in court.
In addition, a prisoner of a murder case along with 11 officials of a business group conducted a meeting in Chattogram Central Jail in April 2016. The shocking incident took place in the conference room of the senior jail super.
Meanwhile, hospital and jail sources said that more than 50 accused in various cases are in the hospital showing various physical problems. Many of them have VIP benefits. They are undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, National Heart Institute, and Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital.
About the matter, Additional IG Prison Abrar Hossain said that the prisoners were admitted to different hospitals on the advice of the doctors of the prison hospital. If the doctor of the hospital does not give the discharge, the jail authorities have nothing to do.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told the Parliament on Thursday that the current prison capacity of 68 jails in Bangladesh is 42,450. There have been currently 82,654 prisoners in various jails. Among the prisoners, 79,454 are males and 3,200 females. This information is until January 18, 2021.
The Home Minister told various media outlets that in case of any kind of irregularity and corruption in the jail, they took action as per the rules.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman told The New Nation that another name for the jail is now irregularities and corruption. The effective way to stop such irregularities and corruption has never been taken. Exemplary punishment was also yet not noticed.
He thinks that the corrupt officials are not punished. They may be transferred or suspended. It is not a punishment. It remains to be seen whether the suspension will be lifted in a few days and the same will be done again with postings elsewhere, he added.
Iftekharuzzaman said that exemplary punishment must be ensured, especially for those in higher positions. Not only to pull the lower level employees. In addition, where have been source of illicit money through corruption, the ACC can take action.
Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua told The New Nation that the prison monitoring team is needed. But it needs to be an impartial and independent investigation to eradicate corruption and irregularities.
That is why it is necessary to form an independent commission. If this can be done then corruption will come down to a great extent, he added.
The former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Prisons, Shamsul Haider Siddique, told The New Nation that this corruption and irregularities were not created in a day. Those who do such things think that there is nothing wrong with them. That is why it is not addressed.
It is not possible to look after all these things in jail by only the IG prison. Everybody should cooperate from his or her respective labels. Stop lobbying from the top level. It is in the interest of the country and the prisons. Strict action must be taken against those who do wrong, he added.
“Monitoring inside jails needs to be accelerated under an independent commission. It can help improve the situation,” he further said.
