Dhaka Central Jail, the most important prison in the country that houses some of the most notorious criminals, is also infamous for the hardships that inmates have to go through.
According to a former inmate, who has recently served 58 days in the jail for sodomy, life in hell could not be worse than spending even a day there.
“The day begins awfully, standing in an excruciatingly long queue of often over 200 men in front of the toilet,” he said.
Finally, their turns come, often when they are at the verge of total collapse, but that does not ensure a few minutes of serenity.
“If an inmate takes a little more than a couple of minutes or so, others standing in queue would start uttering expletives and nearly break the toilet door by kicking,” the former inmate said.
“But if you have cigarettes or cash, you can stay inside longer by bribing the jail guards. Cigarettes and cash are equally powerful inside the jail,” he added.
Water is one of the scarcest resources inside the prison, and so someone has to be really lucky to have a bath.
“Asking for a bath is like asking for a moon in there. The quicker you come out of the toilet, the better is your chance of getting a bath of some sort. Sometimes, one may have to do with just sprinkles of water.”
Eight o'clock in the morning is breakfast time. “Again, if you have money, you can have some fresh bread and lentil. If you don't, you will have to do with food infested with insects.”
The standard of living inside the jail depends on the amount of money an inmate can spend.
“Tk2,500 paid to the guards per week can ensure a pretty comfortable life. With Tk4,000 to Tk6,000 bribe per week, one can buy a piece of heaven inside the jail.
“Say you do not have money, but you are ready to massage the backs and legs of the prison guards and obey their orders for odd jobs, you can fetch yourself some amenities.”
The inmates serving life-term sentences are usually the leaders, or sardars as they are called inside. They virtually do whatever they want – starting from physically abusing the inmates on their whims and forcing the others to do the oddest of jobs for them.
Lunch is served at 11am. But the food, most often ill-cooked and stale, is more fit for disposal than serving.
At four o'clock in the afternoon, it is time for dinner. And that is also the last “free” meal of the day. After that, the inmates will have to go back to their cells and the guards close the doors.
Asked what happens if anyone is hungry after that, the former inmate said: “You need money if you want food after 4pm. The guards will bring you food from the jail canteen or from outside.”
There is also the option for bringing food from home, of course not without bribing the guards.
“You will have to pay in there even to get a good night's sleep.”
A prisoner is made to understand the importance of money right after they plant their first step in the jail, when they go through a process known as “Amdani,” the Bangla for import or income.
During Amdani, which of course is a completely illegal procedure, prisoners have to deposit all their belongings – starting from clothes to cash – to the jail guards. There is no reason to think that the guards give them any receipts in return. The jail guards share the money with the sardars.
The former inmate said he was put in the Jamuna cell, one of the best inside the jail, because he paid the guards a handsome amount.
However, senior super of Dhaka Central Jail, Forman Ai, denied everything when asked about these irregularities.
He also claimed that he does not know anything about bribery inside the jail and promised to take actions if anyone was found guilty.
