Keraniganj jail vulnerable: Prison chief

Keraniganj jail, now the central prison after Dhaka Central Jail was shifted there three months ago, may be facing a major security loophole, prison officials say.

According to the chief of prisons, part of Keraniganj Central Jail's perimeter boundary wall is incomplete – posing risk to the overall security of the prison's compound.

"Due to whatever reasons, the boundary wall is incomplete – which should have been the first thing to be built," said Inspector General of Prisons Brig Gen Syed Iftekhar Uddin.

"Now the security at Keraniganj jail is disrupted," he said.

Last July, the Dhaka Central Jail was moved to Keraniganj and all its prisoners shifted – except the top terrorists and militants who were taken to Kashimpur for the security loophole.

Inspector General of Prisons Brig Gen Syed Iftekhar Uddin speaking at a press conference on October 4, 2016. Photo: Rafiul Islam

AUTHORITIES AND LOCALS BLAME EACH OTHER

While speaking at a press briefing in the prison's grounds, the prisons chief has said that now locals are the prime obstruction towards the construction of fencing. "They chase away Public Works Department officials."

However, locals argue that the authorities had assured them of a road during land acquisition for the prison, which is yet to be delivered. Notable though, none of them wanted to be named.

The prisons' chief said he is not aware of any such promises. But he is hopeful that the impasse will end soon after a meeting at the ministry in this regard.

PWD PULLED UP FOR SLOTH WORK

Brig Gen Syed Iftekhar pulled up the Public Works Department for sloth progress of several development establishments – canteen, meeting cells and others – inside the jail premises.

"I think that it is because of lack of sincerity from their behalf," he said.

However, the new jail is not all about problems and the prisons' chief highlighted that there have been several improvements including remarkable progress on solving the problems of prisoners.