PM for prisons as correction centres

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday underscored the need for developing the country's prisons as correction centres so that prisoners could leave their dark past and return to the normal life after serving their jail terms, reports UNB.

She was addressing a function marking the inauguration of the newly-constructed Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj, on the outskirts of the capital.

"Prisons should not be places for confining prisoners. Instead, these should be centres of correction for the criminals," said Hasina.

The aim of establishing the new central jail with modern facilities for prisoners is to bring some improvement to the lives of criminals and remove sufferings of their families, she added.

Stressing the importance of creating income-oriented work facilities for prisoners on the jail compound, she said their income would have to be deposited so that on completion of jail terms, they could take the money and do something for their livelihood.Such initiatives will help criminals change the way of living and their thinking as well as motivate them to return to the normal life, she mentioned. The prime minister also underlined the need for providing training, healthcare, security and public phone facilities to prisoners.

The jail is being constructed at a cost of Tk 406 crore on about 194.41 acres of land, reports BSS. The whole complex will have three jails, two for males and one for females. The prime minister yesterday inaugurated the first male jail compound having the capacity of 4,590 prisoners with provision of expansion for more 4,000 prisoners. Construction of a 200-bed hospital and the other two jails will be completed by the next year. In addition, the will have living facilities for 500 officials, guards and other staff.