At least 6 prisoners have died while 239 others have fled Kashimpur High Security Central Jail and Kusthia District Jail amid reports of violence in the aftermath of Sheikh Hasina’s fall.
209 inmates have fled Kashimpur High Security Central Jail, Gazipur, while six escapees have been killed by security personnel during the incident.
The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon when inmates revolted inside the facility and managed to escape by scaling the walls, Senior Jail Superintendent Subrata Kumar Bala said on Wednesday afternoon.
During the incident, six prisoners were shot dead by the guards, he added.
The dead have been identified as Aslam Hossain, 27, Afzal Hossain, 27, Imtiaz, 27, Radhe Shyam, 67, Swapan Sheikh, 45 and Jinnah, 29.
“The inmates inside the jail started a revolt. During the incident, they tried to break out of the prison and escape. When guards tried to intervene, the inmates turned violent,” said Subrata.
“The prisoners tried to escape by breaking the wall and scaling it with an electric pipe.” “The army was called in, and a commando operation was conducted to suppress the uprising,” he added.
The bodies of the dead have been sent to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital in Gazipur for post-mortem examination.
Mostak Ahmed, acting resident medical officer of the hospital, said: “Medical Assistant Abdur Rahim from Kashimpur Jail Hospital brought the bodies to our emergency department early Wednesday morning in a vehicle.”
“Later, in response to demands from the relatives and Hefazat-e Islam leaders, the bodies were handed over in the evening,”he added.
Meanwhile, 30 to 40 prisoners have escaped from Kushtia District Jail. Panic spread across the area after the incident occurred around 2:45pm on Wednesday.
Members of the Kushtia army camp took control of the jail gate after being notified about the incident around 3:30pm. At this time, people from the media were asked to leave the premises.
According to a witness, gunshots were fired inside the jail around 2:45pm. Shortly afterwards, approximately 25 to 30 prisoners were seen rushing out of the prison gates.
It is unclear where they went after stepping out of the jail premises. Commotion could also be heard from inside the jail at the time.
Around 3pm, prison guards took position in front of the main gate while shots were still being fired inside the jail.
Later, around 3:30pm, army personnel took control of the jail gate.
Lieutenant Colonel Mahbubul Alam Shikder, the on-duty army officer, told bdnews24.com: “We were able to reach the jail gates in a short period. We entered the premises to bring the situation under control. Blank shots were fired inside.”
“We learned that a few prisoners had escaped, but we do not have the exact number yet. I have asked the jail superintendent to notify me after looking at the attendance sheet.”
