14 VIPs 'overstay' at BSMMU prison cell

Out of 19 VIP inmates having treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) prison cell, 14 are allegedly overstaying.
Sources said the 14 inmates have been overstaying at the prison cells convincing hospital authorities and doctors concerned that they are sick. The jail authority is considering taking them back to jail and admit other prisoners there who need treatment.
According to sources, the jail authorities have already prepared a list of the prisoners who need special treatment facilities. They are: Arafat Rahman Koko, younger son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, former minister Tariqul Islam, former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar, Khulna City Mayor Sheikh Tayebur Rahman and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mizanur Rahman.
Inspector General of Police (IGP-Prisons) Brig Gen Zakir Hassan told The Daily Star, "We think that all the 19 prisoners do not need such facilities anymore. Therefore, we contacted the BSMMU authorities to have those prisoners who are not that sick discharged."
"We are trying our best to take them back to jail. If the hospital does not discharge them, we cannot force them," he said, adding, "Many of the prisoners have been lingering their stay in the prison cells unduly."
The IGP-Prisons said, "Due to their overstay, other seriously sick inmates are being deprived of their right."
DIG-Prisons Maj Shamsul Haider Siddique yesterday said, "We went to BSMMU to discuss the matter today [Sunday] and tomorrow we would go there again to finalise the issue."
Sources said the VIP prisoners had been overstaying at the BSMMU's prison cells unduly in the name of various fake sickness.
The doctors have also allegedly been dillydallying with some not-so-important tests and diagnosis, they said.
Although, there are only 12 beds in the prison cells, 19 VIP prisoners have been staying there setting up six extra beds.
Dr Mohammad Tahir, vice-chancellor of BSMMU, told The Daily Star, "We are considering whether it would be possible to treat them in jail."
On the allegation of doctors being involved with the inmates' overstay, he said, "I cannot say for sure… obviously every doctor concerned is not involved in such acts."
"We would look into the allegation and try to discharge the VIP prisoners who do not need to stay here," he said, adding, "We also think that all prisoners who are sick have the right to get better treatment facilities."
He said, "I already asked the doctors concerned to discharge prisoners who do not need to stay here anymore."
Former lawmaker Mosaddak Ali Falu, BNP Secretary General Hannan Shah, former lawmaker MA Hashem, Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu, Amzad Hossain Sarkar, former minister Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Prof Rafiqul Islam, Lotus Kamal, advocate Sigma Huda, Janakantha Editor Atikullah Khan Masud, and ntv Managing Director Eneyatur Rahman Bappi are among the VIP prisoners staying at the BSMMU prison cell.