The jail authorities on Wednesday said that 700 inmates, out of 2,200 who fled breaking jails before and after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in August, were still roaming outside while the rest of the inmates either surrendered or were arrested by law enforcement agencies.
鈥極ver 2,200 inmates fled from several jails during the student-led mass uprising and after the fall of the then government on August 5. Of them, 1500 people were arrested. Now, 700 of them are still out of jails,鈥� inspector general of prisons Brigadier General Syed Md Motaher Hossain made the disclosure at a press conference at the Prisons Directorate in the city over the directorate鈥檚 past three-month activities.
He said that 70, including extremists and death-row convicts were in hiding.
鈥楢 total of 174 people such as Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, death-row convicts and other criminals walked out of jails after securing bail. Of them, 11 were top listed criminals,鈥� said Motaher.
The IG Prisons said that 17 jails, out of 69, were in dilapidated conditions across the country.
Responding to a question over harassing a former AL minister and a lawmaker at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Motaher said that prison guards were present during the incident and took immediate actions and that was why the incident did not get worse.
鈥業 can surely say that there is a lack of security. The Prisons Directorate is looking into the matter so that such incidents could not take place in future,鈥� he added.
On July 19, 826 inmates fled after breaking Narsigndi district jail and looted arms.
Asked about the action over the incident, he said that the Narsigndi jailor was suspended after the incident.
鈥榃e will take necessary actions against those responsible,鈥� the official said.
In his written speech, Motaher said that the directorate had taken initiatives to change the logo of the Prisons Directorate following the demand of different quarters as the logo had a boat symbol and other complexities.
He said that there was no scope for special prisoners to use mobile phones as they had set up mobile jammers and all-time CCTV surveillance in the area.
He also said that facilities the special prisoners were receiving included a bed, a chair, a table, newspapers and some others but it would not be called a luxury lifestyle.聽
Responding to a question about taking actions against jail officials, Motaher said that four prison officials were sent to forced retirement for allegations of corruption and irregularities.
鈥榃e are investigating some other allegations. We will also take actions against those officials after the probe,鈥� he added.
Additional IG Prisons Colonel Sheikh Sujaur Rahman, deputy inspector general of Prisons Headquarters Monir Ahmed, AIG Prisons for administration Abu Taleb and AIG Prisons for development Jannat Ul Forhad, among others, were present at the press conference.
