The jail authorities are supplying eight iftar (fast-breaking) items to the prisoners of all 67 jails this year costing Tk 22.75 per head.
However, the authorities have made a special ifter arrangement for the VIP and division status prisoners.
Jail sources said the government allocation is Tk 15 for the iftar for each prisoner. But as the prisoners do not have the breakfast, jail authorities have increased the amount up to Tk 22.75.
Inspector General of Prisons (IG-Prisons) Brig Gen Zakir Hassan told The Daily Star, “Though the government allocation is Tk 15 per head, iftar arrangement for VIP prisoners and division status prisoners is little different from others.”
According to sources, each prisoner is provided with 50 grams of muri (fried rice), 50 grams of chickpeas, 50 grams of piazus, 37 grams of dates, 50 grams of chira (flattened rice), 70 grams of gur (molasses) and a banana.
Senior Jail Super Mohammad Touhidul Islam said, “At present, a total of 9,656 prisoners are staying at the Dhaka Central Jail and of them, 51 are VIP and division status prisoners.”
He said, “If any prisoner wants to have more items as ifter, he/she can buy those at their own cost from the jail bakery and jail canteen.”
IG-Prisons said, “The prisoners are being provided with the sehri items instead of their lunches.”
Earlier, different social and non-government organisations had supplied the iftar items for prisoners.
“This year none of the organisations have contacted us so far in this connection,” IG-Prisons added.