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Download PDF The high-profile prisoners who have violated the jail code using cellphone will be allowed visit by their relatives only once a month instead of a week.
Jail authorities took the punitive decision yesterday as they found the VIP prisoners violating the code by several means.
Meanwhile, four more former BNP lawmakers and an ex-Jamaat MP were shifted from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) to different jails for using cellphone and doing other offences.
Besides, the authorities are also investigating involvement of jail guards, police personnel and attendants in this regard.
Jail sources said Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, political adviser to former prime minister Khaleda Zia, was sent to Kashimpur Jail from BSMMU cell at around 1:30pm following seizure of cellphones from his possession.
BNP lawmakers Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu and Abul Hashem were shifted from BSMMU and Salauddin Ahmed from Kashimpur to Dhaka Central Jail, the sources added.
Earlier on Sunday, another former BNP lawmaker Mosaddeq Ali Falu was shifted to Dhaka Central Jail for using an i-Pod and former Jamaat lawmaker Abu Taher from BSMMU to Dhaka Central Jail.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG-Prisons) Maj Shamsul Haider Siddique yesterday told The Daily Star: “Because of violating the jail code, the authorities have cut the privileges of some of the high-profile prisoners in meeting visitors.”
“Investigation is on against those who helped them violate the code by supplying cellphones, SIM cards and i-Pod.”
Asked, he said the authorities are also verifying the necessity of the stay of some VIP prisoners in the prison cells.
Earlier on Sunday, jail authorities seized the cellphone of a BSMMU doctor when Tarique Rahman, son of Khaleda Zia, was found using it at the prison cell of the hospital.
Besides, jail authorities also seized two SIM cards from Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, a cellphone from the hospital attendant of Lutfozzaman Babar, and an iPod from Mosaddak Ali Falu after searching the cells.
The authorities have already taken punitive actions against at least 15 high-profile prisoners in this connection.
Among them, former ministers Air Vice-marshal (retd) Altaf Hossain Choudhury and Barrister Nazmul Huda, and former state minister Aman Ullah Aman were sent to Narayanganj jail.
Former minister Mirza Abbas was sent back to Dhaka jail from Apollo Hospitals for the same reason.
The jail authorities also seized mobile phones from former state minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Sigma Huda, wife of Nazmul Huda, Sabera Aman, wife of Aman Ullah Aman, and Khusnud Lobi, wife of former lawmaker Ali Asgar Lobi.
The sources say other imprisoned crime suspects and convicted criminals also often control their networks of killings, extortion, and other crimes using mobile phones.
Against this backdrop, the government has decided to install cellphone jammers at all 67 prisons across the country to block calls to unauthorised contacts.
Earlier on April 30, IGP-Prisons Brig Gen Zakir Hassan told The Daily Star cellphone jammers would be installed in all the central jails within this year.
Jail sources said some new rules have already been imposed to check such violations. These include no more than one detainee at a time be taken out of the ward for test or check-up, prisoners not allowed to meet relatives while they are outside ward for test or check-up, doctors no longer allowed to recommend food from outside for detainees, prison authorities must be informed instantly if anybody violates the rules, and light be turned on in the prison ward all the time.
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