About 126 prisoners at Rajshahi Central Jail, who have served 20-year of their life-term imprisonment, are now expecting to be released under Section-569 of Prisons Act 1894. The decision has been taken on the occasion of observing the Mujib Barsho on March-17. According to sources, releasing of prisoners on special consideration who served jail for a term of more than 20 years remained suspended after 2014. As a result, many long term convicts who served imprisonment for more than 20 years in various cases were not released even after the term of their punishment has been completed.
Such 126 identified prisoners in Rajshahi Central Jail are now very hopeful of their release on the day of Birth Centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Family members of those prisoners are also spending their days with a great hope expecting their release. They have been applying to the jail authorities for release of their dear and near ones under section-569 from 2014, but they have not yet been released.
It is learnt, Rajshahi Central Jail authorities have recently sent a list with recommendation for release of 126 long term convicts (who already completed 20-years imprisonment) to the Headquarters of Prison and to the Home Ministry in observance of the Mujib Barsho. Those life term convicts aged between 50 and 82 have been serving jail for more than 20 years.
RCJ sources informed, considering the behaviour, conduct and age of the prisoners and the nature of cases, family members of a life-term convicts can apply for their clemency after 20 years of serving the jail under section 569 of Prison Act.
If the government agrees, such prisoners can be released under special considerations on special national events. Sources further informed, before 2014, long term prisoners were released under section 569 almost in every year but after 2014, such release of prisoners remained suspended depriving 126 inmates of Rajshahi Central jail from being released by availing the facility.
The 126 lifelong prisoners who were convicted to serve 30-years of imprisonment, have already completed more than 20-years of their imprisonment. Most of them have already served 22 to 26 years of imprisonment.
They have not yet been released even after appealing to the concerned authorities. Many of those prisoners have reached the required age and have no ability to engage in further crimes. The human rights activists are demanding to release such prisoners on the humanitarian ground.