Provide info of under trial prisoners, SCLAC to jail authorities

The Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee (SCLAC) today requested the jail authorities across the country to provide information about the under trial prisoners so that the committee can provide legal assistance to poor prisoners.

The committee sent a letter to the authorities concerned of all 68 jails including Dhaka central jail in this regard.

The committee will provide free legal assistance to the poor prisoners if their particulars are available in their hands, the letter reads.

SCLAC asked the jail authorities to prepare two separate lists of the prisoners, who have been in the jails more than five years and more than 10 years without trial of the cases against them.

Many people have reportedly been staying in jails since long although the trial proceedings of the cases against them were not finished due to different reasons including absence of witnesses before the trial courts.

It also sent another letter to Islamic Foundation requesting it to instruct Khatibs and Imams of all mosques across the country to inform the religious Muslims after Juma prayers about the SCLAC activities.