A prison exception

For Moni (not her real name), the six-month prison sentence became a period when she learnt skills, subsequently making herself independent for the first time in life.

In her mid-20s, she served the term in Dhaka Central Jail in a case filed over a family feud last year and was released on bail several months ago.

“I am now the main beautician at a parlour in my hometown, Kishoreganj. But I plan to start my own business one day,” she told a press briefing.

The Department of Prisons organised it at its office in the capital.

Another beneficiary of the inmates' training, Rocky, 35, is now known in his village in Dinajpur as a farmer with miraculous success.

“I was absolutely frustrated with life and never thought I would be able to earn an honest living and be integrated into society again,” he said.

About 2,500 former inmates have been rehabilitated through life skills training in prisons so far, said jail authorities. “The aim is to reduce the chances of inmates relapsing into the world of crime once they are freed and eventually ending up in prison again,” said Inspector General of Prisons Brig Gen Syed Iftekhar Uddin.

Due to drug addiction and lack of skills, a significant number of freed people commit crimes again and return to prison, adding to the overcrowding of the jails, he explained.

As there are no government professional trainers at present, the authorities select a group of inmates and use them to impart lessons to their fellows, he said. “We also made arrangements to provide 'Drug Abusers Identification and Management' training to the prison staff to reduce drug related crimes everywhere,” he said.

While the country's prisons have 71,241 inmates, which is over twice their capacity, about 70 percent of them are not convicted criminals.

SECURITY BEEFED UP AT PRISONS

Answering questions, Iftekhar Uddin said security was strengthened in all jails across the country after the killings of two foreigners.

“There had been no instruction from the government, but we are alert,” he said.

A total of 514 foreign nationals are now held captive in Bangladeshi jails, he added. Of them, 55 Indians, 14 Myanmarese, two Nepalese, and two  Pakistanis are awaiting release.

“We are vigilant to prevent any communication with prisoners and criminals outside. We are sincere, but we are understaffed,” he said.

He added that about 4,000 male inmates would be shifted to the Keraniganj Jail in the first phase, which is expected to be ready by November 15. Another 4,000 will be shifted in the second phase, he said.

Finally, the Dhaka Central Jail will be relocated to Keraniganj from Lalbagh.