The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The jail authorities yesterday reduced the three-month suspension of division to five VIP prisoners to just one week --two days after imposing the punishment for violating the jail codes.

The restrictions on meeting visitors and other punitive measures that were also awarded to them will remain, sources said.

Inspector General (Prisons) Brig Gen Zakir Hassan yesterday told reporters that the jail authorities reconsidered their decision as such type of punitive measures against VIP prisoners were taken for the first time in the country.

An inmate with division is entitled to a small cot, newspapers and other facilities.

The jail authorities on Tuesday night suspended for three months the division status to former BNP ministers Nazmul Huda and Altaf Hossain Choudhury, former BNP lawmaker and political adviser to BNP chairperson Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, former Awami League state minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and Nazmul Huda's wife Sigma Huda.

Sigma Huda was given division with special consideration following court orders even though she was not a lawmaker.

The punitive measures were taken against them as they breached the jail codes by using cellphones and iPod inside the jail.

According to the jail authorities, seven VIP prisoners were punished for breaking the jail codes two months ago. Cases were also filed against them but since the court did not take the matter into cognisance, the jail authorities took action within their jurisdiction.