Three isolation centres opened at prisons

To contain the spread of Covid-19 inside prisons and ensure better treatment of affected inmates, the government yesterday launched three isolation centres.

The directorate of prisons launched the isolation centres in Dhaka Central Jail, Kishoreganj District Jail and Feni District jail with the support of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). These centres have a capacity of about 139.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal inaugurated the isolation centres virtually.

While addressing the virtual programme, the minister said a number of significant steps have been taken to ensure good health of the inmates during the Covid-19 outbreak.

The Home Minister said that under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, prisons have been transformed into "modern correctional facilities."

The food menu inside prisons has been changed to be healthier, he said.

"They [inmates] are also being trained so that they can find work after getting out of prison," added the minister.

Stating that the situation inside prisons has changed for the better, Asaduzzaman said, "The accused are living in a good environment, appearing in the virtual court during the pandemic. Arrangements have been made to send money through mobile financial account for expenses inside the jail," said Asaduzzaman.

As visitations are now prohibited, inmates are getting chance to talk on cell phone with family members for around 10 minutes, he added.

If any prisoner shows symptoms of Covid-19 they will be isolated safely, said Asaduzzaman on the newly inaugurated centres.

Katja Lorenz, head of delegation at the ICRC, said that they are providing safety equipment including sanitiser and mask since the beginning of Covid-19 pandemic.

"We hope that the good cooperation will continue in the upcoming days even after ends of the pandemic," said Lorenz.

Apart from these three centres, six other isolation centres have been set up by the Department of Prisons.

These six centres are located in Kashimpur Central Jail-2, Sylhet Central Jail-2, Rajshahi DIG Prison Bungalow, unused part of Dinajpur District Jail, Madaripur District Jail-2 and Pirojpur District Jail-2.

Prison officials are managing these in collaboration with the district administration.

Inspector General of Prisons Brigadier General Md Mominur Rahman Mamun said that "We have already launched quarantine centre under our own management."

"Besides, we are also providing regular protection for prisoners. That is why the rate of infection among prisoners is low," he said.

Md Mokabbir Hossain, secretary of Security Services Division of the Home Ministry, said the first wave of Covid-19 did not infect a large prison population as all health and safety rules were maintained properly. "Hopefully, the infection rate will be low in the second wave as well," he said.

Mostofa Kamal Uddin, senior secretary of public security divisions also spoke at the occasion. Officials of the Department of Prisons, Dhaka District Administration, police higher-ups and chief of different departments were also present on the occasion.