Jails are rife with various irregularities that leave prisoners helpless.
Some prisoners who have recently been released from prison think that relatives of prisoners, lawyers, civil society and human rights activists, need to pay regular visits to prison to remove these irregularities.
Speakers shared the sentiment at a discussion on “Prison life experience and necessary reforms to the prison system," organized by Drik at Drik Gallery in Panthapath on Wednesday, to mark one year of Drik’s managing director Shahidul Alam’s release from prison.
Eden College student Lutfun Nahar Luma, imprisoned during the quota reform and road safety movements, shared her horrible experience in jail. After being taken to jail, she was first sent to the "Amdani ward" where they distribute prisoners to different cells.
She stayed beside the toilet of her cell because she did not pay any money. The food provided inside was of very low quality as well.
"Sometimes, when my food came from home, most of it was stolen," she added.
Luma thinks that people in prison are sent to correct themselves. However, the irregularities and corruption inside are likely to make them even more dangerous.
Maidul Islam, assistant professor, department of sociology, Chittagong University said: "The punishment started as soon as I was put inside the prison van. There were 50/60 people there and it was very hard to breathe inside."
He saw that people bought seats at the medical centre from the "Amdani ward" for money. They were better off living there when compared to other prisoners. A seat there costs anywhere between Tk12,000 to Tk15,000 monthly.
It is perfectly all right when high officials come to visit the cells or medical centre because the prisoners are instructed beforehand that if they open their mouths, they will be punished.
"It was terrible," he added.
Maruf Hossain and Sohel, who were imprisoned for their participation in the quota reform and road safety movements shared that the longer the sentence is, the better the business for those who perpetuate the irregularities.
"You can do all kinds of things, as long as you provide money."
Furthermore, they alleged that jail authorities know everything but they do not do anything since they receive a big percentage from these irregularities.
Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) President Mujahidul Islam Selim said the gate to enter the main gate is very small and the humiliation starts as soon as prisoners are made to enter through this small gate with their heads bowed down.
He believed the jail code has to go through some fundamental reformation.
Drik’s Managing Director Shahidul Alam shared that during his stay in prison, he saw people serving time despite being innocent.
He said: "Even the prison authorities are aware that these people are not guilty. However, they [innocent prisoners] are helpless inside the prison. But those who have money can easily get out." adding that this issue should be addressed by the government.
Alam believes that for prison reform, outsiders like members of civil society and human rights activists need to make regular visits to identify and remove these irregularities, and not only the jail authorities.