Avoiding Covid-19 Transmission: Law ministry still undecided on 3,000 prisoners’ release

The law ministry is yet to give any decision about the release of 3,000 prisoners from jail on bail as the relevant proposal did not reach the ministry.

Law Minister Anisul Huq told The Daily Star yesterday, "My office has not received the proposal about the release… I will give my opinion after examining the proposal and the legal procedure."

Asked what will be the law ministry's suggestion about the prisoners' release, the minister refused to comment.

Jail authorities recently sent a proposal to the home ministry about release of 3,000 prisoners -- including those under trial and jail for bailable offences -- to avoid risk of coronavirus transmission in the prisons.

The home minister reportedly said the matter was being discussed.

Meanwhile, some legal experts including Attorney General Mahbubey Alam told this newspaper on April 1 that the government might release the prisoners -- who were and might be sentenced to jail for a short period of time -- to prevent potential spread of coronavirus.