Speakers at a workshop on Saturday emphasized the need for immediate reform of the prisons by way of modernising the prison system and freeing it from irregularities and corruption.
There are corrupt syndicates in prisons. There are opportunities to purchase services illegally in prisons. There are drug business syndicate in prisons. They must be closed, the speakers opined.
"It is true that irregularities and corruption are taking place in and around the prisons across the country," Inspector General of Prisons Brig Gen Syed Md Motaher Hossain came up with the comments while responding to queries from the participants of the workshop.
The speakers said huge corruption and irregularities took place into the prisons and drug business is also taking place in the prisons with the support of prison officials, which should be ended immediately.
Law Reporters Forum (LRF) and the Directorate of Prisons jointly organized the workshop under the title, 'Prison Reform: Reality and Feasibility' at the convention centre of the prisons headquarters.
Industry, Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan addressed the workshop as chief guest, High Court Division Justice Ruhul Kuddus joined as special guest, Supreme Court lawyer Shishir Manir presented the keynote, Inspector General of Prisons Brig Gen Syed Md Motaher Hossain presented existing system related to prison while Advocate Fawzia Karim Firoze, Barrister Ruhul Kuddus Kajol and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of prison Jahangir Kabir and former DIG prison Shamsul Haider Siddique, news editor of New Age Shahiduzzaman, among others, spoke in the workshop.
LRF Acting President Hasan Jabed presided over the workshop while General Secretary Moniruzzaman Mission and Training and Welfare Secretary Javed Akhtar jointly conducted the workshop.
The speakers said the reformation of prison is urgently needed to modernize the prison system by combining the use of technology, human rights and rehabilitation programmes with the old laws and jail code.
In his speech as chief guest, Industry, Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan said all concerned should be proactive in reforming the prisons.
The Judiciary Reform Commission will give the necessary recommendations to update existing laws in this regard. I urge those who work on prisoners' rights to seize the opportunity. These things could not be talked about for the last 15 years. Now is the chance. Now there is no culture of fear of disappearances and murders, the Industry Adviser said.
"We are all a family. Together we must take initiatives to change the prison-court social system. We must work together to reform prisons," he added.
In his speech Justice Md Ruhul Quddus said every citizen of Bangladesh has the right to criticize the verdict.
"We need to understand the difference between the academic, welfare discussions and contempt of court discussion. I think judgments can always be criticized for academic purposes, welfare and correction purposes," Justice Quddus opined.
Justice Quddus said initiatives should be taken to reform prisons by involving various organizations. We must remember that prisons are part of our society. An imprisoned person will not only have freedom of movement. Why not have the right to vote or speak? This is his constitutional right. All that the inmates need to live a normal life. Children of convicted mothers should be provided with education.
Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajal said the law regarding the prisons should be formed. Prisons should be built humanely. It is the need of the hour to amend the Jail Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure and modernize it.
"There are corrupt syndicates in prisons. There are opportunities to purchase services illegally in prisons. They must be closed," he noted.
Senior lawyer Fawzia Karim Feroze cited examples of countries around the world with opportunities to reform prison inmates. He said, how long can be kept in jail, how the bail should be made.
Inspector General of Prisons Brig Gen Syed Md Motahar Hossain said that the movement of anti-discrimination students created disorder in 17 prisons.
Later, order was restored in all prisons. All prisons in the country now have a safe and normal environment. He emphasized on modernization of the prison system.
He also said corruption should be removed from the prisons to ensure safety and security of the prisoners.
Deputy Inspector General DIG (prison) Jahangir Kabir highlighted various problems in the existing prison system. Among these are inadequate space, lack of doctors and facilities compared to the prisoners. Besides, there are various discriminations in the facilities of prison officials. He emphasized on the elimination of these inequalities.
Advocate Shishir Manir made specific proposals for prison reforms. He mentioned that in 1971, the journey of Bangladesh jail started with 3 central jails, 13 district jails, 43 sub-jails.
In 1997, the sub-jails were converted into district jails. Currently Bangladesh prison system is being operated with 13 central prisons, 55 district prisons.
He said that in the current context many things are not in the jail code. Again, many of the benefits contained in existing laws are not implemented. It is urgent to solve it.
He cited the examples of different countries of the world to modernize the prison system. It is a violation of law to keep convicts in solitary confinement in condemned cells and prisons until the death sentence is confirmed by the Supreme Court.
Shishir Manir said prisoners are kept in condemn cells after they are sentenced to death. Control of psychological stress and proper humane treatment of such prisoners should be ensured. The execution of the death penalty is a highly sensitive matter, so it must be governed by the law and with due respect for the prisoner's human rights.
