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Download PDF The jail authorities yesterday imposed a ban on making any political statement of the prisoners public, according to BBC Bangla Service report.
They have also decided to take legal actions against the lawyers who made political statements public recently after meeting the two detained former premiers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia in prison.
According to the jail authorities, there is no scope for discussing with the prisoners any other matter than personal, familial and case related issues as per the jail codes.
But the lawyers often violate the jail codes by making political statements public after seeing their clients.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG-Prisons) Maj Shamsul Haider Siddiqui said despite repeated request by the jail authorities, the relatives and lawyers of the two former premiers often make political statements before the press after visiting the prisoners in violation of the jail codes.
Legal actions will be taken against those who have violated the codes recently.
They might be barred from seeing the prisoners in jail as a punishment. However, they will be allowed to meet the prisoners if they can get permission from the court.
In that case, the jail authorities would also inform the court about the actions of the visitors who violate the jail codes after getting permission to meet the prisoners.
The lawyers of both the former premiers have protested such decision by the jail authorities.
They said they are bound to follow the instructions of their clients. It would not be a violation of law if the political leaders intend to make any message public through their counsels, they added.
Awami League (AL) Chief Sheikh Hasina’s lawyer Barrister Fazle Noor Taposh said in many cases the jail authorities have violated the jail codes by baring the lawyers from meeting Hasina.
“We are not bound by their terms and conditions,” said Taposh.
It is just an excuse to prevent the legal counsels from seeing their clients, he added.
Former premier Khaleda Zia’s counsel Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon alleged that the jail authorities have violated the jail codes on different occasions.
Citing the example of making AL leader Abdul Jalil’s political statement public by the jail authorities, Khokon asked whether it was a violation of the jail codes or not.
He said if that action of the jail authorities was not a violation of the code, they also did not violate the code.
The jail authorities have made sure that their decision to maintain ‘administrative discipline’ is implemented, he added.
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