12 VIP prisoners faking sickness in hospital

The jail authorities have requested Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) to send back 12 high-profile prisoners for overstaying in its hospital with fake sickness.
Meanwhile, the jail authorities say they would go for punitive measures against former BNP lawmaker Mossadeq Ali Falu for cheating with them and the court by submitting a fake medical certificate.
Jail sources say the division status of Falu might be cancelled and he be barred from meeting relatives for a certain period.
They add they have sent to BSMMU the names of former BNP lawmakers Hafiz Ibrahim, Manjurul Ahsan Munshi, Wadud Bhuiyan, Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu, former BNP state minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and deputy minister Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu, former secretary ANH Akhter, former chief conservator of forest Munshi Anwarul Islam, Janakantha editor Atiqullah Khan Masud, Swechchhasebak League leader Pankaj Devnath, Giasuddin Al Mamun and Amin Huda.
Inspector General of Prisons (IG-Prisons) Brig Gen Zakir Hassan told The Daily Star: "Through our investigation by the jail guards deployed in their rooms, we found the 12 prisoners prolonging their stay with fake sickness.
"Our guards found that those prisoners always remain fit. Besides, our jail doctors also found that they don't require treatment facilities outside the prison.
”The list was provided to the BSMMU authorities formally with a request to send them back," the IG-Prisons added.
Contacted, Prof M Tahir, vice-chancellor of BSMMU, admitted receiving a list of detainees and said he has asked all concerned to take proper steps.
"Being a doctor, I can't issue an administrative order forcing other doctors to release their patients if they are really sick," he said. "The jail authorities have made the request so that they can provide treatment facilities to other prisoners."
Asked, the IG-Prisons said, "We would discus with the home ministry about the allegation of submitting fake medical certificate to the court and measures would be taken according to its suggestion and the jail code."
Replying to a query he said, "We were not informed of the fake medical certificate as it was submitted averting us. Besides, the medical board was also not approved by the government."
Prof M Tahir also said, "We don't know how did they submit the report to the court. After the court found it false we have provided all the information it wanted."
Falu had earlier obtained bail from the High Court submitting a fake medical certificate. The Appellate Division cancelled the bail order on Monday.
The sources say most of over 150 bigwigs, detained after the 1/11 changeover and freed on bail and parole, spent a large part of their detention at different hospitals in jail custody.
Jail and hospital sources say most of the high-profile prisoners overstayed at the hospitals in order to enjoy better facilities and avoid prison life. In most cases unethical favour by the doctors concerned helped them prolong their stay, the sources add.
At present, 20 detained bigwigs are receiving 'treatment' at BSMMU alone. Around 100 high-profile corruption-suspects had treatment at the hospital.