Hello from the inside

Shahadat Hossain, a convict of Chuadanga serving life, has been in Tangail District Jail for the last two years. His family members could not meet him in jail on more than a handful of occasions as it was far from Chuadanga.

Shahadat yesterday talked to his wife Swarna over the phone with one of the four phones set up inside the jail for the inmates.

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"A prisoner's life is very helpless and I was very gloomy for not being able to get information about my home and family members over the last few months. Today, I am feeling happy after talking to my wife over the phone … ," he said.

After talking to his brother, inmate Sazzad Hossain of Ghatail upazila, said none from his family had met him over the last three months he had been in jail. He had five more months to serve for possession.

"Now I feel good after talking to one of my family members and apologising for my wrongdoings," he said.

He thanked the jail authorities for the opportunity.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal inaugurated the pilot project Prison Link Smart Communication System “Swajan” yesterday morning.

In a press briefing later on, he said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, while inaugurating the Keraniganj Central Jail on April 10, 2016, had promised the phone facility for inmates.

The facility will be introduced to all jails in the country if this project was successful, he added.

The inmates are allowed to make a 10-minute call twice a month. They are asked for two phone numbers of their relatives and the relatives get text messages a day before, letting them know to expect the call.

The calls are recorded and jail guards are present beside the inmates during calls.

Militants, members of outlawed and extremist organisations, and people detained for abduction and extortion, are not allowed to make calls.