Female prisoner escapes: 7 prison guards suspended

The prison authorities have suspended seven prison guards on charges of negligence of duty in the case of a convicted female prisoner escaping from Kashimpur Central Women’s Jail in Gazipur. 

At the same time, a three-member investigation committee headed by a senior jail superintendent has been formed. 

On Saturday afternoon, Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Md. Nurul Karim Bhuiyan confirmed the matter to Daily Samakal.

Three matrons and four female prison guards are among the seven who have been temporarily suspended. They are Matrons Laila Anjuman Sumi, Marina and Rehena and female prison guards Shayla, Sharmin, Jamie and Asma Akhter.

Assistant Inspector General of Prisons (Development) Md. Jannat-ul-Farhad told Daily Samakal that they were temporarily suspended on Friday as the allegations of negligence in duty were initially proven. 

At the same time, a three-member investigation committee has been formed to investigate the cause of the incident.

According to prison sources, on Thursday evening, about 40 female prisoners were carrying bricks inside the prison. Taking advantage of the carelessness of the matron on duty at that time, convicted prisoner Mosha Rimpa (21) escaped by climbing over the boundary wall next to the office building of the prison. Later, her absence was noticed during the prisoner count. After reviewing the CCTV footage, the prison authorities confirmed that she had escaped.

Md. Jannat-ul-Farhad said that members of the police and other law enforcement agencies are conducting a drive to arrest the escaped prisoner. At the same time, an investigation is being conducted to find out how a prisoner managed to escape from the high-security prison.

The fugitive Rimpa is the daughter of Md. Hasan Habib of Raipur village in Gangni upazila of Meherpur district. She was imprisoned in Kashimpur Part-3 (Women) Prison as a prisoner sentenced to three months by the mobile court of Dhanmondi police station in Dhaka.

After the incident, new questions have been raised about the security arrangements of the prison and the accountability of those concerned in performing their duties. 

Prison sources said that further administrative action may be taken in this incident after receiving the investigation report.