After the recent escape of two death-row militants from their custody at Dhaka court and on police recommendation for strengthened security measures, the prison authorities started to put shackles (dandaberi) on militants, high-profile prisoners or people convicted in multiple cases during their transport to and from the court.
Yesterday (Wednesday), three members of banned militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team were produced before the court of Dhaka 3rd Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Sheikh Samidul Islam in shackles, with extra security personnel around them.
The three accused Jikrullah alias Hasan, Ariful Islam alias Arif alias Erfan alias Mushfique and Md Saiful Islam alias Mansur were produced at the hearing of case filed over the murder of blogger Wasiqur Rahman Babu.
Earlier on November 21, police sent a letter to the prison authorities to put shackles on militants, high-profile prisoners or people convicted in multiple cases during their transport to and from the court.
"Incidents of convict's escape have taken place during their court production as they were not put on shackles. It would have been possible to thwart such incidents if they were on shackles. We have sent a letter to prison authorities to take steps in this regard," deputy commissioner Jasim Uddin of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's (DMP's) prosecution wing said.
The police authorities also called upon the prison authorities to take steps in transporting the militants, high-profile prisoners, convicts or people convicted in multiple cases, on separate prison vans.
Death-row convicts Abu Siddiq Sohel and Moinul Hasan Shamim, members of banned militant outfit Ansar-al Islam, were whisked away by their associates by beating police and spraying some chemical on their eyes at Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court arena on November 20.