Ctg jail inmates make 4,000 masks

A group of prisoners in Chattogram Central Jail have made 4000 face masks in last eight days, to be used as a precautionary measure against a possible coronavirus outbreak inside the jail.

Kamal Hossain, senior superintendent of the jail, told The Daily Star, "With help from 10 inmates, we started manufacturing masks on March 22, using raw materials from Dhaka, with an aim to contain the spread of coronavirus among the prisoners."

"Chief tailor Md Shahjahan of the jail coordinated the inmates to prepare the masks while as senior official, I personally oversaw the work," added Kamal.

"Every day around 250-350 masks were prepared by the inmates and then sent to the canteen for sale. At least 4,000 masks were made during this time," added he.

The face masks have been distributed among the jail staff for free while the inmates can buy it at the canteen using Tk 15 from their personal cash cards, said the officials.

According to jail sources, there are more than 7000 inmates in the jail now. This population includes both men and women prisoners.

However, the initiative has been halted for now, due to shortage of raw material supply, said jail officials.

PRISONERS CAN NOW CALL LOVED ONES

According to jail authorities, prisoners of Chattogram Central Jail can call their family members using official phones installed by the jail authority.

He said, 650 inmates talked to their family members yesterday over phone.

Senior Jail Super Kamal Hossain said, "Prisoners at the jail are allowed five minutes every week to talk to their dear ones -- parents, wife, children, and siblings -- over phone. For every minute, they will be charged one taka."

A senior prison-guard will accompany them during the conversation, he said.

The service will be available from 9am-12pm and again from 1pm-3pm every day, said the jail official.

"In-person visits are now limited due to the ongoing pandemic," said Kamal Hossain, "We have also put a one-metre barricade [for social distancing] between visitor and inmate if anyone has to meet in person."

Jail source said protective measures have been taken for inmates so that they can maintain hygiene at their cell and outside. Before entering cells, every inmate has to wash their hands and feet using a basin.

Apart from that, the guards have been told to wash their shoes with bleach-mixed water before entering every ward.