Bangladesh planning to release 3,000 prisoners amid COVID-19 fears

Around 3,000 prisoners, who had been jailed for minor offences in Bangladesh, are heaving a sigh of relief as the government is planning to release them, amid fears of COVID-19 outbreak in crowded prisons.

According to reports, jail authorities have sent a proposal to the Home Ministry, along with a list of the inmates, as per the ministry’s order in light of the coronavirus outbreak. We are considering if those who await trials for bailable offences can be released on bail, Additional Inspector General (IG) of Prisons Abrar Hossain said.

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If approved by the Home Ministry, the proposal will then be forwarded to the law ministry. If the law ministry does not have any objection, it will be placed before the courts, the report said.

On Thursday (April 2), Bangladesh confirmed two more cases of the novel coronavirus, rising the tally of infections to 56. The death toll from the virus remains unchanged at six. A total of 141 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, out which two returned positive results, according to the health directorate.