- "Prisoners get chance to use phones through duty guards. If a prison guard gets Tk 20 to 30K for allowing someone to talk, that’s a lot of money for him. This money is nothing for influential prisoners.’
Major (retd) Shamsul Haider Siddiqui, Former DIG Prisons
In jail, accused can enjoy many unthinkable amenities if they have a good amount of money. A shopkeeper said the line with enthusiasm. His shop is at the opposite side of the district jail of Lakshmipur. He again said that the jail is heaven for wealthy people and hell for poor. So there arises a picture of our jails inside. The same kinds of allegations have been going on against Salman F Rahman, the head of Beximco Group and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's private sector advisor. The allegations said that he has continued to plot against the country even while in prison. He is in touch with many Awami League leaders, including Sheikh Hasina, who is in India, on his mobile phone. Sources claim that he has no difficulty talking abroad as his mobile phone has internet connection. However, the prison authorities say that there is no opportunity to talk on mobile phones from inside the prison. Jammers have been installed where he is being held.
Salman F Rahman went into hiding after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5 during the anti-discrimination student uprising. After being on the run for several days, he was arrested on August 13 while fleeing from Sadarghat in the capital along with former Law Minister Anisul Haque. Later, Salman F Rahman was arrested in a murder case filed at the capital's New Market Police Station. The police then took him on remand in the case and interrogated him. After going to prison, he was given a division. According to the prison rules, he is getting some facilities than ordinary prisoners. Among them, he got chairs, tables and beds in the prison, which prisoners without divisions do not get.
Meanwhile, sources have reported that Salman F Rahman is getting a chance to communicate with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is in India, on a mobile phone while sitting in prison. He is getting the opportunity to use a mobile phone by managing dishonest prison guards, which gives him the opportunity to communicate around the world because of the internet connection. And through this communication, he is conspiring against the country.
In this regard, IG Prisons Brigadier General Syed Mohammad Motaher Hossain said yesterday, “He is not supposed to get a chance to talk on the phone. Even after this, since you have given the information, I will check it." He also said, "The zone where he (Salman F Rahman) is kept forbidden to allow mobile phones. They are being checked twice while going to court and return from court due to the case. And a jammer has been installed where he is being held."
Former DIG Prisons and Prison Analyst Major (retd) Shamsul Haider Siddiqui said yesterday, "Prisoners get the opportunity to use mobile phones through those who are on duty in the prison. If a prison guard gets Tk 20 to 30 thousand for allowing someone to talk for a while, that is a lot of money for him. This money is nothing for influential prisoners. As a result, many prison guards get involved in these crimes by taking risks."
He said, "The prison authorities should increase surveillance. In addition, influential prisoners need to change rooms after a few days. Then this problem can be overcome. If anyone is caught, strict legal action will be taken against them.’
Earlier in July 2021, it was reported that Destiny Managing Director Rafiqul Amin had held a Zoom meeting on his mobile while sitting in prison. In light of this allegation, disciplinary action was taken against eight people, including the head prison guard of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) prison cell at that time. Rafiqul Amin was in the prison cell of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital for two months in 2021, citing diabetes-related illness. Using the excuse of illness, he was continuing his business activities even while under prison supervision. Later, the video of the Zoom meeting was released.
In January 2022, the prison authorities learned through secret information that Nur Hossain, one of the accused in the controversial seven-murder case in Narayanganj, who was in a condemn cell in Kashimpur Central Jail-2, was using a mobile phone in the condom cell. Later, the prison authorities recovered the mobile phone in a raid. The prison authorities formed a three-member investigation committee into the incident.
Prison sources said that not only prison guards but also prison officials are prohibited from entering the prison with mobile phones. Routine searches are sometimes conducted to find out whether the prisoners have mobile phones or drugs. There is also a system of searches at entry points. Despite all this, mobile phones end up with prisoners in the prison. A prison official said that the mobile phones are being sent to the prisoners through the prison officials, who are unable to handle the lure of large sums of money. Sometimes these officials turn off the jammers.
Sources said that despite the imposition of strict measures after the new IG Prisons joined the Central Prison, some unscrupulous prison officials and prison guards are continuing their illegal trade in the Central Prison. A prison official, who did not want to be named, said that some officials of the Dhaka Central Prison are keeping the IG Prisons in the dark and are trading crore of taka by giving unethical benefits to MPs and ministers.
On September 18, the CID said that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has filed 17 cases against 28 people, including Salman F Rahman, on charges of smuggling about Tk 1,000 crore abroad under the guise of export trade. The CID investigation conducted in accordance with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and Rules has found preliminary truth in the allegations of money laundering against Beximco Group founder Vice Chairman Salman F Rahman and his brother, Beximco Group Chairman ASF Rahman. The story is almost believable to everybody because there are rumors and gossiping ongoing from a long period of time about the unethical use and amenities inside the prison. People believe that prison is almost like home for political leaders and other influential.
ZH
