Comitted to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 4 Num 8 Wed. June 04, 2003  
   
Letters to Editor


A maximum security prison in the Bay of Bengal


The underworld is maturing quickly in Bangladesh. Incidences of organized crimes are now common. Some recent killings give hints of involvement of highly trained professional assassins. Smuggled Russian and Czech automatic weapons are abundant. The culprits are not even sparing on-duty members of the law enforcing agencies to collect firearms and ammunitions when needed.

In a situation, when the criminals are quickly specializing in their crime skills and the crime rates are rising sharply, it is very important that we isolate the criminals already convicted from the rest of their world. We need to establish a maximum security prison outside our mainland. This prison must be controlled centrally, not administered by a district official. We have been aware of incidents that some criminals are able to run their networks, maintain constant contacts outside, plan and organize crimes while serving terms in the prisons. Collaboration from the wardens and jail officials inside the prison is widely and reasonably alleged.

There are some small and less densely populated islands across our coasts. One of such an island in the Bay of Bengal can be chosen to build a prison, where dangerous, repetitive and top 'brand name' criminals will serve their times. Maximum security measures like isolated rooms, electrified fences, video surveillance, can be instituted. Centrally recruited, trained and well-paid wardens will guard and limit access to only selective family members to meet the prisoners. Trained dogs can also be employed.

Keeping the criminals separate from the outside world will surely help us break the chain of their networks.