Prison authorities are preparing a newly built women’s prison near Dhaka to house a group of high-profile detainees, including former ministers, senior bureaucrats, and party figures, following the fall of the fascist Awami League government.
Originally constructed as a central women’s facility in Keraniganj on the outskirts of the capital, the prison is now being retrofitted to detain up to 200 VIP prisoners and 50 general inmates under tight surveillance. Officials said the move is aimed at easing overcrowding in existing male prisons, which are currently holding more than double their intended capacity.
“This facility was not originally designed for this purpose, but the current situation has necessitated changes,” Jannatul Farhad, Assistant Inspector General of Prisons, told Bangladesh Pratidin. “Arrangements are underway, and a formal inauguration is expected by the end of the month.”
Sources said that only 140 high-power CCTV cameras have been purchased to ensure security. However, they have not been installed yet. The purchase of high-power 'jammers' has not been completed yet. However, the jammers installed in Chinese prisons are being considered as standard.
Colonel Mohammad Mustafa Kamal, Additional Inspector General of Prisons, who recently visited correctional facilities in China, is reportedly overseeing equipment selection. Chinese-designed jammers used in their prisons are being considered as the benchmark. Trial runs are being conducted with models submitted by a number of international suppliers.
Sources also said that the ongoing project for Narsingdi District Prison mentioned the issue of body scanners, luggage scanners and jammers. A Chinese company, under the supervision of the Executive Engineer of Narsingdi District, provided these equipment as samples. They have been trialled in this prison that is being prepared for VIP prisoners.
However, the prison authorities were not satisfied with the performance of these scanners and jammers. Now the Prisons Department has also informed the Public Works Department to return them.
Sources said that although the process of preparing this women's central prison for 300 prisoners is underway, the prison authorities had decided to keep BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia during the Covid pandemic in 2020. However, the arrangement fell through due to the court's order to allow her to be under house arrest at her home and to be given medical facilities in private hospitals.
The prison is being set up primarily to keep under special surveillance former Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, former Law Minister Anisul Haque, former Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, former Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu and Salman F Rahman, and other Awami League leaders and activists and several secretary-level officials, who were arrested after the fall of the fascist Sheikh Hasina government on August 5. Some ordinary prisoners will be kept there to serve the VIP prisoners.
(Translated by Tanvir Raihan)
