Prisons to be brought under security network

The prisons across the country will be brought under a security network with the installation of modern equipment including closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, mobile phone jammers and archway metal detectors.
“We are going to bring all the prisons under modern technologies in phases for foolproof security in a bid to ensure safe custody of the prisoners,” Inspector General (Prisons) Brig Gen Mohammad Ashraful Islam Khan said.
The authorities already brought some of the jails, including 11 central jails, under security scanner with the installation of modern technologies.
The jail authorities already purchased a number of CCTVs for five prisons, two archway and 13 handheld metal detectors, four mobile phone jammers, 186 walky-talkies for Tk 1.55 crore under a project titled “Strengthening of Bangladesh Prisons Department Through Procurement of Modern Transports and Construction of Related Structure”.
Besides these, 10 mobile phone jammers were purchased under another project and installed in different prisons. The jail authorities will also buy 17 more mobile phone jammers.
The jail authorities sent a proposal to the government to purchase security equipment including CCTVs and 214 walky-talkies for eight more prisons.
The prison authorities also decided to set up an external electrification system for the prisons at a cost of Tk 8.40 lakh as they are quite often thrust on a virtual bewilderment when the electricity goes off.
As there is an allegation that some prisoners are carrying out criminal activities through mobile phones, the jail authorities have taken a decision to install mobile phone jammers and other modern technologies in the country's 67 prisons to ensure foolproof security and put an end to the allegation, some prison officials said.
A cellphone jammer cuts off mobile network in a particular area and stops any sort of communication through cell phones, they said. Mobile phone jammers were installed in some of the prisons, including Dhaka Central Jail, Chittagong Central Jail and Kashimpur Jail 1 and 2 and Mymensingh Central Jail, they said.
However, the jail authorities are facing manpower crisis for long. There are around 8,000 guards for over 70,000 prisoners in the 67 jails having the capacity of 28,900, jail sources said. It is not possible to maintain security of over 70,000 prisoners with only 8,000 guards, they added.