Seven Prison Officers Suspended After Female Inmate Escapes

Seven prison officers have been temporarily suspended following the escape of a convicted female inmate from Kashimpur Central Women’s Prison in Gazipur, as Bangladesh’s prison authorities launched an investigation into what appears to be a serious breach of security.

The disciplinary action comes after officials alleged negligence in the discharge of duty. A three-member inquiry committee, headed by a Senior Jail Superintendent, has also been formed to determine how the escape occurred and whether additional administrative action is warranted.

Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Md Nurul Karim Bhuiyan confirmed the development on Saturday afternoon, saying the incident was being treated with the utmost seriousness.

Among those suspended are three matrons and four female prison guards. The suspended personnel have been identified as matrons Laila Anjuman Sumi, Marina and Rehena, along with female prison guards Shaila, Sharmin, Jemi and Asma Akter.

Assistant Inspector General of Prisons (Development), Md Jannat-ul-Farhad, said the seven officials were placed under temporary suspension on Friday after preliminary findings indicated negligence in carrying out their assigned responsibilities. He added that the investigation committee had already begun examining the circumstances surrounding the escape, including possible lapses in supervision and prison security procedures.

According to prison sources, the incident took place on Thursday evening while approximately 40 female inmates were engaged in carrying bricks within the prison compound as part of authorised internal work. During the activity, convicted inmate Mosammat Rimpa, 21, reportedly took advantage of a moment of inattention by the supervising matron and climbed over the boundary wall beside the prison’s administrative building before escaping.

The escape was discovered only after prison authorities conducted a routine headcount and found one inmate missing. Officials subsequently reviewed closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, which confirmed that Rimpa had fled the facility by scaling the perimeter wall.

Prison authorities immediately launched an internal response and informed law enforcement agencies. Police, together with other security agencies, are continuing operations to locate and arrest the escaped inmate.

Md Jannat-ul-Farhad said investigators were not only focusing on recapturing the fugitive but were also examining how an inmate managed to escape from a high-security correctional facility. The inquiry is expected to assess whether existing security protocols were properly followed and identify any operational shortcomings that may have contributed to the breach.

The escaped inmate, Rimpa, is the daughter of Md Hasan Habib of Raypur village in Gangni Upazila of Meherpur District. She had been serving a three-month prison sentence at Kashimpur Part-3 Women’s Prison after being convicted by a mobile court under Dhaka’s Dhanmondi Police Station jurisdiction.

The incident has renewed concerns over security arrangements and staff accountability within Bangladesh’s prison system. Officials say the findings of the investigation committee will determine whether further departmental or administrative measures should be taken against those found responsible. The authorities are also expected to review existing supervision and security procedures to help prevent similar incidents in the future while efforts to recapture the escaped inmate remain ongoing.