Around 150 inmates in cells 22 and 23 resorted to hunger strike since midday Friday after their attempts failed to draw attention of the authorities over poor and inadequate food supplies for their daily meals, sources said.

Meanwhile, an unconfirmed source informed that around 100 more inmates of cell 25 joined the agitators in the afternoon.

Inspector General (prison) Brig Gen Zakir Hasan and Deputy Inspector General (prison) Mir Maqsud Hossain arrived in Chittagong in the afternoon and visited the prison, added the sources.

Both top prison officials were negotiating with the agitated prisoners on the issues till writing this report at 7:45pm yesterday.

The IG (prison), however, told the journalists at the jail gate yesterday evening that his visit was only a routine one.