DHAKA: Two jailbreaks in Bangladesh killed at least 12 inmates and freed hundreds more in the chaotic days after the ouster of autocratic premier Sheikh Hasina, officials said on Saturday amid intense political upheaval.
The chaos underscores the fragile state of law and order as the interim government struggles to restore stability.
The first of the twin jailbreaks occurred at Jamapur Prison on Thursday. Warden Abu Fatah reported that six convicts were killed when prison guards were violently assaulted by escapees. “The inmates attacked us with iron rods and sharp weapons, set fire to my office, and attempted a mass breakout,” Fatah told AFP. “We were forced to open fire to control the situation. At least six inmates were killed, including one who was stabbed to death.”
The prison guards managed to contain the situation before any prisoners could escape, but the violent nature of the attack reflects the broader instability gripping the country.
The second jailbreak happened on Tuesday at the high-security Kashimpur Prison, located about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of Dhaka. According to Warden Lutfor Rahman, six prisoners were killed during the breakout.
The inmates used iron tools and rebar rods to assault guards and breach the jail’s main gate. “We were forced to open fire to prevent a total breakout. At least 203 prisoners escaped during the chaos,” Rahman said. Notably, none of the high-profile inmates, including extremists and murderers, managed to flee their cells.
These incidents are part of a troubling pattern of jailbreaks and violent unrest that has plagued Bangladesh since the recent political upheaval. The turmoil began in earnest when protests erupted against Hasina’s government last month.
On July 1, a massive mob attacked a prison in Narsingdi, leading to the escape of over 800 prisoners. Another significant breakout occurred on August 5, the day of Hasina’s ouster, with more than 500 inmates fleeing from a jail in Sherpur.
The ongoing unrest has been marked by severe clashes between police and protesters, resulting in more than 450 deaths, including dozens of police officers. The police force has been particularly affected, with unions declaring a strike on Tuesday, demanding better safety measures. As a result, many police stations remained closed, though more than half have since reopened.
