2,329 inmates to be released

The prisons authorities are releasing another 2,329 convicted prisoners from jails in third phase to ease the accommodation crisis and minimise the risk of novel coronavirus transmission in overcrowded prisons.

"Most of the 2,329 inmates are supposed to be released by today [yesterday]. But a few of them have fine issues. They will be freed within two/three days," Col Abrar Hossain, additional inspector general (AIG) of prisons, told The Daily Star yesterday.

The prisoners, who were convicted of minor crimes, had been behind bars for less than three months.

Muhammad Monzur Hossain, AIG (admin) of prisons, said the prisons department sent release orders to the divisional offices on Friday.

The home ministry, after taking opinions from the law ministry, recently ordered the prisons authorities to release 2,884 inmates who were jailed for one year or less for minor offences, but served months in jails.

Earlier, 555 prisoners were freed last week in two phases. Of them, 170 served six months behind bars, and the rest between three months and six months, jail sources said.

As per the home ministry's order, the prisons headquarters recommended releasing around 5,000 prisoners under three categories.

Under the first category, there were more than 3,000 prisoners who were sentenced to two-year imprisonment.

The second category included 1,413 life-sentenced prisoners who served more than 20 years in jail. Besides, there were 36 inamtes with physical disabilities under the third category.

However, the list of 1,413 prisoners is being shortened.

Col Abrar said, "We are excluding inmates convicted of heinous crimes like murder, rape, abduction, throwing acid and in arms cases from the list. After exclusion, the number is now around 460. Preparation of the list is still under process."

There are around 90,000 prisoners in 68 jails across the country against the capacity of 41,244. Such a large number of prisoners is posing a high risk of coronavirus transmission inside the prisons.

Twenty-two prison guards, two inmates and a doctor of prisons have tested positive for Covid-19 so far since the first Covid-19 case was reported in the country on March 8.