70 prison officials, guards found guilty
of drug dealing
An investigation is underway to punish those
involved in drug dealing inside jails as
Bangladesh has expanded its anti-narcotics
campaign.
At least 70 people, including prison officials
and guards, have been found guilty of drug-
related offences, according to officials of the
jails.
Three of them were fired on Tuesday and the
two were punished.
The charges against jail officials and prison
guards have been raised several times for
supply of drugs to detainees.
Deputy Inspector General of Prisons Md
Touhidul Islam told bdnews24.com that they
have been taking measures against drug
possession, consumption and supply to
prisoners over the last one year.
“In March last year, we received the
allegations of having yaba pills against three
Shariatpur prison guards—Salahuddin, Palash
Hossain and Faruq Hossain,” he said.
“Immediately after receiving the allegations,
authorities suspended them,” Islam said. After
investigators found them guilty in an internal
investigation, authorities permanently
terminated them on Tuesday, he said.
Besides, Dhaka Central Jail prison guards
Raihan Uddin and Ashraful Islam have been
transferred to other places as part of
disciplinary actions, he said.
“At present, investigations are being
conducted on specific allegations of drug
addiction against 70 people, including district
and deputy jailers, and jail guards.”
Some of them have secretly supplied drugs to
the prisoners, some are addicted, and some of
them looked for opportunity for selling drugs,
according to the deputy inspector general of
prisons .
Islam said all the 70 people have been
suspended as the jail authorities have followed
the principle of 'zero tolerance' about the
drug. The maximum punishment will be given
in accordance with the offence.
Deputy Jailor of the Dhaka Central Jail
Mohammad Mominul Islam was temporarily
suspended in March last for his role in
peddling seized yaba pills.
Various actions have already been taken
against over 100 officials and prison guards of
68 jails over the last one year, said Islam.
by: bdnews24