Former state minister for civil aviation and tourism Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin now works in the Dhaka Central Jail library while former state minister for labour and employment Amanullah Aman sweats tending a garden in the prison.
Former law minister Moudud Ahmed remains busy writing, and his fellow cabinet members Nazmul Huda and Altaf Hossain Chowdhury idle their days away, chattering to each other, reading newspapers and watching television, Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui, deputy inspector general (prisons) told the private television channel ATN Bangla yesterday.
Tarique Rahman, elder son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, keeps himself confined to his cell.
Of the 32 VIPs detained in Dhaka Central Jail, Aman and Mir Nasir have been given work as they are serving rigorous imprisonment.
"The cell named Champakoli boasts a garden and Aman works there. Mir Nasir was not given any hard physical work for his age and fragile health condition. He looks after the jail library," Siddique said.
Their work time starts at 9:00am and ends at 1:00pm, he added.
Asked about Tarique's condition, the DIG (prisons) said, "He is doing okay now. Not ill anymore. He reads books. Sometimes I talk to him. A few days ago he told me he wants to talk to other inmates."
Moudud Ahmed lives at Champakoli and spends most of his time writing and reading. He has taken some paper pads from the jail authorities, he added.
"He has been given a room in the corner so that he does not feel disturbed," said the prison official.
About Nazmul Huda, he said the former communications minister lives in the same block and passes time chatting with others and reading newspapers.
Maj Siddique said there are some women among the VIPs in the Dhaka Central Jail. Of them, ex-BNP lawmaker Ali Asghar Lobi's wife Khorsheda Akhter, Nazmul Huda's wife Sigma Huda, and Aman's wife Sabera Aman are receiving treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, he added.
BNP leaders Lutfozzaman Babar, Nasiruddin Pintu, Tariqul Islam, Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil and his party colleagues Mohammad Nasim and Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim are among those undergoing treatment at BSMMU, Birdem and LabAid.