By: PramodKumar
IN the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, Bangladesh is planning to release 1,413 inmates who were sentenced to life imprisonment and have already served more than 20 years in jail.
It also plans to free over 3,000 petty criminals.
The country is planning to release 5,000 prisoners to reduce the chance of coronavirus transmission.
The home ministry has already sent a proposal to the law ministry in this regard.
“We are thinking of releasing those who served more than 20 years in jail, but are stuck due to the new definition of life imprisonment given by the former chief justice Sinha. Besides we are thinking of releasing some disabled prisoners,” said a minister.
According to prison and home ministry sources, there are more than 5,000 prisoners, who have been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, in different jails.
Of them, 1,413 were named in the list for release as they have served more than 20 years in prison and there were no pending cases against them either. Reports suggest that the home ministry is planning on releasing them without condition.
Public health specialists have expressed concern that many prisoners might contract coronavirus in the densely populated jails plagued by unhealthy and unhygienic living conditions.
There are around 89,000 prisoners at 68 jails across the country, against a capacity of 41,244, posing a high risk of spread of coronavirus inside.
