The Department of Prisons has launched a cashless payment system in the country’s correctional facilities aimed at simplifying the process of depositing funds for inmates and streamlining access to canteen services.
For this purpose, an agreement has been signed with the Sonali Payment Gateway on Tuesday at the conference room of the Department of Prisons, marking the formal introduction of a fully digital system for managing prisoners’ cash (PC) accounts.
Sonali Bank Deputy Managing Director Md Rafiqul Islam and Department of Prisons Additional Inspector General of Prisons Colonel Mohammad Mustafa Kamal signed and exchanged the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.
Sonali Bank General Manager Aklima Islam and Deputy General Manager Mohammad Aslam Hossain attended the ceremony.
Under the new system, relatives of inmates will be able to deposit money into prison accounts online with greater ease. Officials said this initiative will eliminate the need for physical visits to prisons for depositing funds, thereby saving both time and costs for visitors.
Authorities believe the cashless mechanism will also enhance transparency in prison canteen operations by reducing cash-based transactions and minimizing the scope for irregularities.
The Department of Prisons said the digital service will be introduced in phases, with the long-term objective of modernizing prison management and improving operational efficiency across the country’s correctional facilities.
