'MP Hazari enters jail violating rule'
Awami League lawmaker for Feni-2 constituency, Nizam Uddin Hazari, allegedly enters the Feni jail violating rules and the jail super assists him, according to an investigation team.
He entered jail on 24 February, 13 April and 5 June this year and also entered the jail on 23 August 2018, the investigation team quoted jail officials as saying.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, Nizam Hazari said the local MP can enter the jail in his constituency.
For this he does not require permission, he said adding he has to go to jail to see the condition of the jail inmates.
However, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan said even a minister cannot enter jail without permission.
“As a home minister I also cannot enter jail without permission,” he told Prothom Alo.
Hazari’s entrance to jail came to light while investigating an allegation that two Jubo League leaders were threatened in Feni jail.
Convicts or top criminals are generally kept in cells. But two Jubo League leaders, who are not convicted, were kept in Room No. 3 of security cell as normal accused after their arrest.
They are Feni district unit Jubo League former president M Azharul Haque and former joint secretary Sakhawat Hossain Bhuiyan.
During the investigation, a witness said the MP along with his body guard Shahabuddin and Fulgazi’s Anandapur union parishad chairman Harun Majumdar entered the jail.
In an allegation to the home minister and the secretary on 9 July, they said the followers of MP Nizam Hazari threatened them in the jail.
Two Jubo League leaders in writing alleged that Harun Majumdar and Sahabuddin entered the jail on 13 April.
“In how many cases are you sued? You will not try to get bail in any case. You will be burnt to death like Ekram chairman if you get released on bail,” the Jubo League leaders’ allegation reads.
About the allegation, Nilzam Hazari said, “I’m a member of parliament and also the district unit general secretary of Awami League. Why shall I threaten them?”
*This, report originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam.