President Abdul Hamid: Keep vigil on crimes in jail

President Abdul Hamid on Tuesday asked prison authorities to keep vigil on prisoners so that they cannot take drugs and run drug businesses in jails. "A large number of prisoners are in jail in drug-related cases. Prison authorities have to take stern actions so that addicts or drug peddlers can't take drugs and run drug businesses in prisons," he said while addressing a program marking the Prison Week 2018 at Kashimpur Central Jail. Abdul Hamid said strong surveillance is needed so that no one from the prison administration can get involved in such unethical activities. "We've to keep in mind that all the responsibilities of a detainee rest on prison authorities as soon as he/she lands in jail," he said. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, Security Services Division Secretary M Farid Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury and Inspector General of Prisons Brig Gen Syed Iftekhar Uddin were also present at the program. Observing that no one in the world was born as a criminal, the president said various unfavourable environments make them criminals. "Prison authorities have to arrange specific programs for criminals to enhance their moral values and rehabilitate them after imparting them with various trainings," he added. Pointing at prison officials, he underscored the need for taking steps to correct the unacceptable behaviour of prisoners to help them lead a normal life. Besides, he said, awareness has to be created about the consequences of taking drugs. The president went on saying: "For the sake of security of the nation as well as the country, you've to show firmness so that militants, top terrorists and drug peddlers can't plan to carry out militant or terrorist activities inside jails." Various activities taken by jails, including efforts to reduce the tendency of committing crimes among the prisoners and provide trainings to them on various fields, have earned people's appreciation, he said while terming the decision to pay 50% of the profits earned from selling items produced in jails to the inmates a time-befitting one. The president also said after serving their jail terms, the prisoners are getting opportunities to be rehabilitated in the society using the knowledge acquired from different industries in jails and the money received from the profits. "It'll help reduce the tendency of committing crimes to a great extent." He praised the decision to introduce mobile phone booths in jails for prisoners so that they can talk to their families which will help keep their mental health sound. "All these steps will help them return to normal life," the president added.