Irregularities and corruption that take place in jails across the country cannot be reined in as a section of top officials allegedly condone illegal activities. On the contrary, they take illegal benefits by ignoring such practices.
It was learnt that the investigation committees often recommend stern action, but this normally results in a mere reprimand. Hardly a handful of the guilty persons are actually punished. In many cases, the accused are merely transferred to less important jails. Then after a few months, they pull some strings and bounce back to key posts.
According to media report, Tushar Ahmed, one of the main accused of the Hallmark Group’s money laundering case, was given an opportunity to be with his wife together in privacy at Kashimpur Central Jail on January 6 for a long period in exchange of bribe amounting to taka one lakh thirty thousand. This meeting was allegedly arranged for immoral purpose. The amount is too small for the depth of corruption.
But unless police power-based system of government is changed the police discipline cannot be maintained. Police are implicit in committing major crimes like rape, murder, drugs etc. This cannot go on.
Meanwhile, five jail officials, including Jail Super Ratna Roy, have been withdrawn and attached to the headquarters. Earlier, two inquiry committees have been formed in this regard — one by the district administration and another three-member committee headed by additional Inspector General of prison Col. Md Abrar Hossain. Discipline in police has been broken for political use of the police.
A review of various inquiry reports indicates that the jails are rife with irregularities and corruption. From the entry to the exit of prisoners, nothing is done without money. Money bends the rule. And the main reason that the crime and the corruption cannot be controlled is that this is all aided and abetted by the top officials.
Just for greed among our public servants, not only the police, the whole system of government is in tatter. What happened in Kashimpur central jail is nothing to be surprised. If right payment is made cooperation for compromising jail discipline is not that difficult.
For sensationalism it will be difficult to find out the truth. Then there is a long dirty hand of dirty politics.
The latest media report said the woman was his wife. If that was case it is much easier for low level officers to linger their stay together during jail visit. There are some police with direct political connections who do not have to care how low their position is. They are more powerful than their higher officers.
The higher authorities must seriously think as to how to restore their full authority over the police keeping police out of politics and political control. The police need reorganisation with all seriousness.
