Inmates of several district jails across the country have escaped recently, causing security concerns among the people who are already in grip of fear over the ongoing unrest following the fall of the Awami League government.
The country have witnessed incidents of looting of weapons, the escape of a good many inmates from several prisons by breaching the security walls of different district jails.
Many inmates and jail staff have lost their lives and sustained injuries during the escape attempts. A total of 826 inmates escaped from Narsingdi District Jail after breaking open the jail and setting fire to their cells.
Among the escapees, there were nine prisoners involved in militancy. The law enforcers later managed to arrest four of them again. The four include Jewel, who was nabbed by police, Faruk Ahmed arrested by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Khadija Parvin alias Meghla and Ishrat Jahan alias Mausumi by Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit. A total of 598 inmates have so far surrendered.
Following the Narsingdi jailbreak, similar jailbreak and attacks were reported in other district prisons. A total of 518 inmates escaped from Sherpur Jail, jail superintendent Humayun Kabir Khan said.
He told the Bangladesh Post that efforts are underway to repair the prison, and many of the escaped prisoners have contacted us, expressing their intention to surrender once the repair of the jail is completed.
A group of miscreants freed 596 inmates from Satkhira Jail after on the prison. Of them, 456 have returned and surrendered, said Hasna Jahan Bithi, the prison superintendent.
She told the Bangladesh Post, “We are waiting for the remaining inmates to surrender. If they do not return soon, we will take legal action against them.”
In Kushtia District Jail, out of 874 inmates, 104 escaped and 36 of them surrendered, Deputy Superintendent Aftabuzzaman confirmed it to the Bangladesh Post.
In Shariatpur District Jail, 670 inmates were detained while they were trying to escape, and during the chaos, some prisoners took several prison guards hostage in an attempt to escape from the jail.
The situation was brought under control by the combined efforts of the Army, RAB, police, and fire service personnel. The army rescued 14 prison guards and three female guards, who were held hostage by the inmates.
Three guards were injured, and one was shot and later admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. Seven inmates were killed during the escape attempt, according to Acting Jail Superintendent Mazharul Islam.
A total of 209 inmates escaped from Kashimpur High Security Prison. Six prisoners were killed while attempting to flee as prison guards opened fire to prevent the escape, Deputy Superintendent Rezaul Karim told the Bangladesh Post.
Meanwhile, at Dhaka Central Jail, an attempted uprising was quickly subdued by the military, preventing any escape. However, one inmate was injured during a scuffle and later died, said Major Rezban of the Bangladesh Army.
Additional Inspector General of Prisons Sujaur Rahman said the situation is gradually being brought under control. “I urged the remaining escapees to surrender. Those who will not surrender will have to face additional legal charges,” he said.
“Not all inmates escaped; some fled in self-defence, while others were forcibly freed. We have given them scope for surrender. The escaped inmates can return to their respective prisons, surrender through district administrators, courts, or local police stations,” he added.
