Security in Tangail District Jail inadequate

The overall security in the jail became vulnerable as 29 out of 159 posts remained vacant for long. The vacant posts also include one deputy jailor, two head wardens and 25 wardens, sources said.

Though the prison has a capacity of only 405, it now crammed with 1,276 inmates. Of them, 1,217 are males and 59 are females.

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Among the 50 JMB militants arrested from different parts of the district since August 17 serial bomb blasts are Mohammad Yameen and Delwar Hossain. They were arrested from Baropakhia Quami Madrasa in Delduar on August 28. Both have given confessional statement before a first class magistrate court in Tangail on their involvement in the blasts.

The other JMB cadres Mainul Islam Ranga and Borhan Uddin Bhuiyan now in Tangail jail were arrested on June 13. They admitted that they experimented with bombs in char area of Nagarpur upazila.

Besides them, Shahidul Islam and Sirajul Islam who have been sentenced to death are also in the jail. They were convicted in the murder case of former UP chairman Salamat Ullah Maznu of Baghil in Tangail Sadar upazila.

The JMB in a letter to the jailor recently threatened to blow up the jail.

The letter, sent during Ramadan, said they will retaliate action against their cadres.

Earlier, DIG (prison) Major Shamsul Haider Siddiky visited the district jail after August 17 serial bomb blasts across the country. He directed the jail officials to take additional security measures in and around the jail.

Sources said, the security measures are still inadequate. But the jail officials told The Daily Star that the security in and around the jail have been tightened. 'We have taken additional security measures and set up two check posts at the entrance to the jail. Armed police team is patrolling around the jail day and night', an official said.