Check drug abuse, trade inside jail

President Abdul Hamid yesterday asked authorities to keep vigil on prisoners to refrain them from taking and running drug business inside jails.

"A large number of prisoners in jails are convicted in drug-related cases. Prison authorities have to take stern action to ensure that they do not consume or run drug business inside jails," he said.

The President said this while addressing a programme marking "Prison Week 2018" at Kashimpur Central Jail.

Abdul Hamid said strong surveillance is needed to ensure zero involvement, even from prison administration, into such unethical activities.

"We have to keep in mind that all responsibilities of a detainee rest with prison authorities as soon as he or she lands in jail," he said.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, Security Services Division Secretary M Farid Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury and Inspector General of Prisons Brig Gen Syed Iftekhar Uddin were also present.

Observing that no one in the world was born as a criminal, the president blamed unfavourable environment for making them criminals.

"Prison authorities have to take specific initiatives for criminals to enhance their moral values and rehabilitate them after imparting them with various trainings," he said.

Besides, he said, awareness has to be created about the consequences of taking drugs.

Various activities taken by jails, including efforts to reduce the tendency of committing crimes among the prisoners and provide trainings to them on various fields, have earned people's appreciation, he said, describing the decision to pay 50 percent of the profits earned from selling items produced in jails to the inmates a time-befitting one.

Hamid also said after serving their jail terms, the prisoners are getting opportunities to be rehabilitated in the society using the knowledge acquired from different industries in jails and the money received from the profits. "It'll help reduce the tendency of committing crimes to a great extent."

He hailed the decision to introduce mobile phone booths in jails for prisoners so that they can talk to their families which will help keep their mental health sound. "All these steps will help them return to normal life," the President added.