690 prisoners who fled various jails still at large: IG Prisons

Of the 2,247 prisoners who escaped from various jails across the country during the July mass uprising, 1,557 have been rearrested. Some 690 prisoners are still at large, and law enforcement agencies are working to apprehend them, said Inspector General of Prisons Brigadier General Syed Motahar Hossain.

He provided this information at a press conference organised at the Prisons Headquarters on Tuesday, August 18. The IG Prisons said a total of 2,247 prisoners had escaped during the attacks and vandalism at various jails during the July mass uprising. Of them, 1,557 have been recaptured so far.

On the prisoners who fled from Narsingdi jail, Syed Motahar Hossain said a total of 826 prisoners had escaped from that jail. Information has been obtained on 660 of them, but 166 prisoners are still untraced.

Responding to journalists' questions on whether any special facilities are being provided to prisoners, the IG Prisons said there is no scope to provide special facilities to any prisoner. The country currently has 75 prisons. Measures have been taken to control the quantity and quality of food for prisoners in these jails. However, 21 of these prisons require renovation.

On allegations of drug smuggling into jails and the involvement of jail guards, he said the Prisons Directorate has taken a tough stance against drugs and financial irregularities. If any prison guard is found involved in drug-related offences, departmental action is being taken and criminal cases are being filed as necessary, with the individuals handed over to police.

The IG Prisons also said that over the past two years, 21 prison guards have been compulsorily retired and 82 have been dismissed from service in connection with various irregularities and offences. Additionally, departmental action has been taken against 870 individuals. As part of administrative measures for minor offences, 303 have been removed from their duties or postings.