ZCZC
BSS-46
RELEASING-PRISONERS-CORONAVRIUS
555 freed, 2329 more to be released in phases
DHAKA, May 9, 2020 (BSS) – Against the backdrop of Covid-19 outbreak, the
government in the meantime released some 555 prisoners, and 2329 others will
be freed in phases, sources at the home ministry and the Department of
Prisons said today.
“As part of the government’s plan to free at least 2884 prisoners from 68
jails, the authority concerned has already freed a total of 555 prisoners in
two phases . . . And the rest of the 2329 inmates will be released in
phases,” Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Administration M Manzur Hossain
told BSS this evening.
The jail authority, maintaining all necessary legal procedures, freed 170
prisoners on May 1 and 385 others on May 3, he added.
Country’s 68 prisons (13 central and 55 district jails) have more than
90,000 inmates, which is several times beyond their capacity.
The home ministry said it is considering the release of 2,884 prisoners by
pardoning the rest of their sentence terms in accordance with Section 401(1)
of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Earlier, the Inspector General (IG) of Prisons Brigadier General AKM
Mustafa Kamal Pasha said prisoners, who have completed over 20 years jail
term and are facing trial on petty crimes, have been proposed to be freed due
to Coronavirus spread.
The authorities have taken a decision to free the prisoners whose terms of
sentence are going to end soon. Most of those freed on the first day had been
convicted by mobile courts as well, he added.
Jail authority sources said in 17 jails (previously 21 jails) under Dhaka
Division, 953 prisoners will be freed. Of them, Dhaka Central Jail has 218
prisoners, Kashimpur-2 Central Jail 35 prisoners, Kashimpur Women’s Central
Jail 2 prisoners, Narshingdi District Jail 21 prisoners, Narayanganj District
Jail 71 prissoners, Munshiganj District Jail 65 prisoners, Gazipur District
Jail 13 prisoners, Tangail District Jail 13 prisoners, Manikganj Dirstrict
Jail 39 prisoners, Kishorganj District Jail 217 prisoners, Faridpur District
Jail 74 prisoners, Rajbari District Jail 39 prisoners, Shariatpur District
Jail 18 prisoners, Madaripur District Jail 27 prisoners and Goplaganj
District Jail 36 prisoners.
Besides, total 77 prisoners in four jails of Mymensing Division, 423
prisoners in eight jails of Rajshahi Division, 69 in four jails under Sylhet
Division, 354 prisoners in 11 jails under Chattogram Division, 97 prisoners
in six jails in Barishal Division, 198 inmates in eight jails of Rangpur
Division, 158 prisoners in 10 jails of Khulna Division will be freed
gradually.
Not only in Bangladesh, many other countries, including Italy, the UK and
Iran, that were infected with the fatal Covid-19 diseases, released their
prisoners from their prisons under the prevailing situation.
BSS/ASG/SIR/KU/2108 HRS