staff correspondent

Inspector General of Prisons Brig Gen AKM Mostafa Kamal Pasha today submitted a report to the High Court saying that there are only 10 physicians for the total 68 prisons across the country while 131 posts of doctors are now lying vacant.

The prisons have the capacity of accommodating 40,664 prisoners whereas the number is 86,998 till August 27 this year.

The government has appointed total 20 doctors on deputation for the jails last year. But among them, only four have joined, the IG prisons said in the report.

He submitted the report through Deputy Attorney General Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar to the HC following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Md JR Khan Robin on February 19 this year seeking necessary order for the recruitment of physicians.

During today’s hearing, the HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahsan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader asked the deputy attorney general to inform this court next Monday why the 16 doctors, out of 20, have not joined the post.

The bench also fixed next Monday for further hearing on the petition.

Barrister KM Mahbubuddin Khokon and Advocate Shammi Akter appeared for the writ petitioners.