A full-fledged Ready Made Garment factory was inaugurated in Narayanganj District Jail yesterday. This is the first all-unit RMG factory in a prison in Bangladesh. The factory was built in association with the district administration and the Department of Social Services.
According to Narayanganj Jail Superintendent Subhash Kumar Ghosh, a total of 300 prisoners will be able to work in the mini-factory in two shifts.
Inmates are busy with sewing work
Bangla TribuneHe said: “The factory has started its journey with 54 imported machines. A total of 300 machines will be set up in time. The factory has cutting, printing and iron sections. Each of the machines will be operated with one trained craftsman and one helper. Besides, the factory will need workers to carry products from here to there.”
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“There are multiple categories among the prisoners. The prisoners who are sentenced to long-term imprisonment or life-term will have the opportunity to receive training and work as trainers later,” he added.
An inmate is busy with stitch work
Bangla TribuneHe also said: “Short-term prisoners will also receive training so they can find employment after being released from the jail. Besides, the prisoners will get half of the total profit of the factory. There is a prisoner cash account for each prisoner. The money will go to that account and the prisoners will be able to draw the money and buy extra food with it. They will also be able to send money to their family members - for children’s education or other purposes. They will also have the opportunity to save their entire earning in the account too.”
Narayanganj prison officials are observing the materials the inmates had produced so far
Bangla TribuneNarayanganj Deputy Commissioner Rabbi Miah said: “The factory has been built to improve the socio-economical condition of the prisoners. The prisoners will be able to support their family through their earnings and they will also have some savings when they leave the prison.”
“The prisoner-made products will be available in the shop in front of the jail. Besides, we are in talks with Aarong authorities. If they agree, then the products will be available at Aarong showrooms too.”
Some of the handy work of the inmates of Narayanganj prsion
Bangla TribuneThe rest of the products will be taken by Bangladesh Knit Manufacturing and Exporters Association (BKMEA) for their branding. BKMEA said they will assist the project to their level best, he added.
A Jamdani manufacturing factory “resilience” was inaugurated yesterday. Along with the Jamdani manufacturing factory, 10 handlooms will be established in the mini-factory. Each handloom will employ 40 prisoners – 20 trained workers and 20 helpers. A total of 80 prisoners will be able to work the handlooms in two shifts.
Some of the inmates are seen stitching under the supervision of prison guards
Bangla TribuneBesides the newly employed prisoners, 450 are already employed in the Narayanganj district jail.
According to the jail superintendent, prisoners work in almost every sector, starting from building prison walls.
Gazipur and Kashimpur jails have mini-factories already, but Narayanganj jail has built the first fully-equipped RMG factory.
The article was first published on Bangla Tribune
