Expelled Jubo Mohila League leader Shamima Nur Papia has been shifted from Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur to Comilla Central Jail following an allegation of torturing a fellow inmate.
She was taken there at 5:30pm on Monday under special security, said Obaidur Rahman, senior jail superintendent (acting) of Kashimpur Central Women's Jail.
Obaidur said Papia was shifted to Comilla Central Jail on the order of higher authorities to maintain discipline and security inside the Gazipur prison following some recent incidents.
According to jail sources, trainee lawyer Runa Laila, who had been arrested in a document theft case and sent to jail on June 16, was released from Kashimpur Central Jail on bail on June 27.
When she was in the prison, the jail matron found Tk7,400 in her possession after searching her.
As Papia and her associates came to know about the money, they tried to take it from her.
As Runa refused, they took her to a place where there were no CCTV cameras and beat her up, tying her hands and legs with chains on June 19.
At one point, Runa was left on the floor in a bloody condition.
At that time, the money was forcibly taken by Papia, Runa claimed.
An arbitration meeting was held inside the prison over the issue.
There, the prisoners and the responsible officers and employees got involved in a three-way conflict.
However, the ordinary prisoners could not even protest against the brutal torture of Runa Laila due to being afraid of Papia.
Runa Laila's brother Abdul Karim filed a written complaint with the Gazipur deputy commissioner on June 25 regarding the incident and it was published in different newspapers.
The DC assigned an additional district magistrate to investigate the incident.
Three people were ordered to show cause over the incident.
The three are jailer Farhana Akter, deputy jailer Jannatul Taiba and matron habildar Fatema.
“Action will be taken if anyone is found guilty in the inquiry report,” said Obaidur.
He added that inquiries are being made to ensure that such incidents do not happen again inside the prison.
On October 12, 2020, A Dhaka court sentenced expelled Jubo Mohila League leader Papia and her husband Mofizur Rahman Sumon to 27 years in prison each in an arms case.
