12 inmates have died and hundreds more have escaped during two prison breaks in Bangladesh in the days of turmoil following the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, prison officials said on Saturday. Six inmates were killed in the Jamalpur prison on Thursday, after guards were attacked by prisoners attempting to escape, said prison director Abu Fatah. “They attacked us with iron bars and sharp weapons. They set fire to my office. Then they tried to escape and take with them the 600 prisoners in the facility,” he continued, adding that the guards were “forced to open fire.” “At least six inmates were killed, including one who was stabbed,” he added.
More than 1,500 inmates have escaped since early July. On Tuesday, six prisoners were also shot dead during a breakout at a high-security prison in Kashimpur, just 30 kilometers north of the capital Dhaka, according to its director Lutfor Rahman. He explained that the inmates used iron tools and rebar to attack the guards, and they breached the main gate of the prison, forcing soldiers and prison guards to open fire. “At least 203 prisoners also managed to escape,” he added.
The high-security prison in Kashimpur houses some of the most notorious inmates in Bangladesh, including Islamist extremists and murderers. On the day Sheikh Hasina was removed from power on Monday, over 500 inmates fled from a prison in the Sherpur district. In July, over 800 prisoners escaped from a prison in the Narsingdi district, when a crowd of thousands attacked the institution dating back to the British colonial era, setting fire to the director’s office. Police unions declared a strike on Tuesday and stated that officers would not return to work until their safety was ensured. More than half of the country’s police stations have reopened since then, according to law enforcement authorities.
The recent prison breaks have raised concerns about the security of the prison system in Bangladesh and the ability of authorities to control the situation. The escapes have highlighted the challenges faced by law enforcement officials in maintaining order and preventing further incidents of violence and unrest. The government has vowed to take action to improve security measures in prisons and prevent future escapes. The public is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities to help prevent further incidents.