Dhaka: A total of 1,557 of the 2,247 prisoners who escaped from various jails during the July mass uprising have since been arrested and returned to custody while 690 remain at large, said Director General of the Department of Prisons Brig Gen Syed Md Motahar Hossain on Tuesday. 'We have applied to the court to obtain information about them,' he said at a press conference at the Department of Prisons headquarters in Old Dhaka.
According to United News of Bangladesh, 826 prisoners escaped from Narsingdi Jail alone, and the whereabouts of 166 of them remain unknown. When asked about militant prisoners who escaped during the unrest, the director general stated that nine listed militants fled from different prisons. Among them, six have been rearrested and returned to custody, while three remain at large. The six rearrested militants include Jewel alias Jewel Ustad, who was recently apprehended by the Anti-Terrorism Unit.
Brig Gen Motahar addressed allegations of drugs being smuggled into prisons with the help of prison guards, stating that he has adopted a 'zero tolerance' policy against drugs and financial corruption. Over the last two years, 21 officials have been sent into compulsory retirement, 82 have been dismissed, and departmental proceedings have been initiated against 870 people. Additionally, 303 others have been transferred to different departments for minor offences. Prison guards found involved in drug-related offences were handed over to police after criminal cases were filed against them.
Regarding the use of mobile phones inside prisons, Brig Gen Motahar noted that the authorities have no information about such usage but assured that action would be taken if any complaint was received. In response to allegations that Awami League leaders and activists are being allowed to use mobile phones in prisons, he maintained that mobile phone use is strictly prohibited.
On the topic of prisoners' food, the director general announced that automatic roti-making machines are being installed in prisons. These machines would save time and ensure quality by automating the entire process, from preparing flour to making and heating roti. This initiative is expected to reduce security risks associated with keeping large numbers of prisoners outside at night for food preparation.
Preparations are underway to segregate accused individuals in drug-related cases in two prisons, one in Feni and the other in Kishoreganj. When asked about the number of foreign nationals currently detained in Bangladeshi prisons, Brig Gen Motahar revealed that 379 foreign nationals are held in different prisons across the country. Letters have been sent to the concerned embassies to repatriate 170 of them to their respective countries.