The prisoners of Kashempur Central Jail in Gazipur have been provided with pillows for the very first time in prison history.
Prior to this initiative, the prisoners had to use one of the three blankets allocated to them as a makeshift pillow.
Police authorities confirmed that all the 95,000 prisoners in 68 prisons across the country will be gradually provided with pillows that cost Tk 485 each.
Inspector General of Police (prison), Syed Iftekhar Uddin, who was the chief guest during the distribution ceremony said, ‘The prisons were operating as they were since the British rule up until now.”
“To make the prisons operational as correctional facilities, a few more policies and laws need to be amended. The law and policy draft are ready and we can implement it as soon as the parliament approves it,” he added.
Iftekhar said the medical services in the prisons need to be revamped. “There are only eight physicians and 11 ambulances for the 95,000 prisoners in the 68 prisons all over the country.”
He added that appointment of more physicians and upgraded medical instruments were imperative in order to improve the medical services in prison.
He also pressed the point of needing specialized doctors for prisoners who are addicted to substance abuse.
“The number of prisoners in the country is 5 times more than what the prisons can accommodate,” he said.
“Keeping the prisoners in mind the prison facilities and premises have to be upgraded and we will need more hands,” said the IG who bought a few television sets for the prisoners during the program.
Iftekhar added that very soon the breakfast menu for the prisoners will be changed.
Until now the convicts used to be provided with a couple of flatbreads and piece of jaggery for breakfast. They will soon be provided with a different menu everyday of the week which includes- vegetables, halwa or hotchpotch.
“We have sent a draft listing the breakfast expenses of the prisoners to the finance ministry. Hopefully it will be approved and implemented soon,” said Iftekhar.
“The government has decided that the prisoners will be able to call their families 15 days of the month. As soon as phone booths are set up in all the jail premises, the prisoners will be able to do so,” he added.
Moreover, half of the profit made from the sale of products made by prisoners will be given to them as wages.
The pillow distributing ceremony has been inaugurated in the prisons in Kashempur, Natrakona jail and Dhaka Central jail.