No political talk allowed from jail

Responding to recent media reports on detained BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's approval or disapproval of a recently formed BNP committee, DIG (Prisons) Maj Shamsul Haider Siddique yesterday said no detained person has the scope to convey political statements from behind bars.
"Such political talk cannot be held between detained Khaleda Zia and her relatives at the sub-jail because according to the jail code, no political talk is allowed," the deputy inspector general (DIG) told reporters at the entrance of the sub-jail.
"When they [the detained persons] talk to visitors, jail officials stand near them and take records of their conversation and the record is kept in the jail register," Haider added.
"Before entering the special jail, visitors pledge not to discuss any political matter [with the detained leaders]," clarified Maj Shamsul Haider.
"We do not give them (visitors) further permission to visit if they discuss political issues violating the jail code," he said.
"To be certain whether Khaleda Zia had such talk with her or not, I talked to Khaleda Zia'a daughter-in-law Syeda Shamila Rahman and she denied having any political discussion with her mother-in-law," said Haider.