How 4 death row inmates escaped only to be arrested in 90 minutes

DHAKA – Four death row inmates escaped from Bogura prison by punching a hole in the ceiling of their cell early today.

However, an hour and a half after the incident, they were arrested by the police 500 metres from the prison.

The convicts are Nazrul, 60, of Kurigram, Amir Hamza, 38, of Narsingdi, Md Zakaria, 31, and Farid Sheikh, 28, of Bogura, Bogura Police Commissioner Sudip Kumar said today Chakraborty, during a press briefing.

He said after much planning, they made a rope out of clothes, cut a hole in the ceiling of their cell and escaped through the roof at 3:05 a.m.

“Police arrested them at the market near the prison around 4:30 a.m.,” he said.

“The prison authorities informed us about the matter at 3:56 am. After that, all police stations and patrol teams were alerted. The four fugitive accused were brought to the DB office at 4.30 am under the direction of a sub-inspector from Sadar outpost,” the SP said.

Deputy Commissioner Saiful Islam told The Daily Star that a six-member investigation committee headed by an additional district magistrate had already been formed.

“The prison was built during the British era. No iron rods were used during the construction of the roof. By tying several pieces of clothing together, the prisoners were able to climb up and escape through the roof. Following the incident, I went to the prison and requested that six additional security posts be placed in front and behind the prison building,” the DC said.

The four convicts were transferred to a sentencing cell on June 1, he added.

Three condemned cells at Bogura prison house 13 death row inmates, according to the prison source. The four people who had escaped were housed in one of them.

Sub-Inspector Khorshed Alam, who led the arrest operation, told The Daily Star: “We started searching everywhere after coming to know about the incident. Since the jail is located near the banks of Karatoa River, we guessed that they would try to escape via the river. For this reason, we chased the river bank and found that they were trying to cross the river from the city’s Chelopara bridge.

“Later, with four officers and some residents, I arrested them,” he said.

The SI continued: “The arrested persons were identified when they were brought to the DB office by examining the photos provided by the prison authorities.”

Anwar Hossain, the prison director, did not answer his phone when our local correspondent called him repeatedly for his comments on how the four were able to escape.

Some journalists also went to Bogura prison, but they were unable to speak to anyone about it.