There is just one pharmacist at Faridpur district jail to serve 914 inmates, as the post of an assistant surgeon for the jail remains vacant for long, thanks to the negligence of the authorities. There are no physicians, no diagnostic centre or any other medical facilities inside the jail. In 1825, Faridpur district jail was established at Jhiltuli on 34 acres of land. A corrugated tin-shed room is available at the jail for providing medical services to the jail inmates, but it remains unfit for use. Abdullah Al Mamun, the supervisor of Faridpur Jail, said there is a capacity of 420 inmates, but it currently counts well over double that: 897 male and 17 female inmates. The post of assistant surgeon has remained vacant for a long period of time. “If we find any prisoner sick, we used to take him/her to the Faridpur Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College and Hospital. Besides, a physician has been appointed but he is not regular. A senior pharmacist is available to provide medical care to them,” he said. Besides, three attendees are required with a patient when sent to the hospital outside the jail, hampering the normal activities of the jail due to the manpower crisis, said Al Mamun. Read: Any role in artificial fertilizer crisis Pharmacist Ashraful Alam, who is available at the jail for providing first aid, said minimum 2-3 physicians are needed for providing healthcare services to the jail inmates. He also stressed the need for a permanent hospital for medical care of the inmates alongside 3-4 nurses and a diagnostic center. According to the district jail sources, some 1050 jail inmates took healthcare services in the past three months and two inmates are undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College and hospital and one died while undergoing treatment. Many jail inmates from other jails adjacent to Faridpur district also came here to avail medical treatment. Kabirul Islam Siddique, jail inspector of Faridpur jail, said the prison is crammed and the number of inmates well over their capacity, is a major problem. “It is true that the inmates are suffering a lot due to the manifold crises but the authorities concerned should take measures in ensuring the medical services to the prison inmates," Siddique said. District Magistrate Atul Sarka said a physician was attached to the jail and local administration also visited the jail regularly and inquired about the facilities of the inmates. END/UNB/Corr/MAS/ssk/0032

A 30-kilometre tailback was created due to the increased number of vehicles on Dhaka-Tangail-Bangbandhu Bridge Highway in Tangail on Friday.Hundreds of vehicles with passengers, goods and cattle were moving very slowly on Dhaka-Tangail-Bangabandhu Bridge Highway due to long tailbacks, causing immense sufferings to Eid holidaymakers.‘The highway is witnessing a 30-kilometre traffic jam from Bangabandhu Bridge East side to Nagarjolfoi Bypass area of Tangail. The traffic jam has been created due to the increasing number of vehicles ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, according to Md Ataur Rahman, in-charge of Elenga Highway Police.Law enforcers are working to control traffic at various important points and intersections, he said, adding that surveillance has also been increased. Also read: Mawa-Bhanga expressway witnesses huge traffic snarl on first day of toll collectionVehicular movement would become normal as time advances, expected the officer.On Friday afternoon, People were seen going to their respective destinations using different vehicles, including cattle laden trucks, pickups, and motorcycles.Due to the tailback, the homebound passengers, especially children and women have become the worst sufferers with having no toilet facilities on their way.Roxana Akter, a Lalmonirhat-bound passenger, said she is worried about reaching home as it had taken more than eight hours to reach Elenga-Bhunapur link road in Kalihati upazila.She also claimed that on the way, while stuck in the tailback, they had paid astronomical prices for food and drinking water to the hawkers.

Commuters had a harrowing time on Saturday morning as the indefinite nationwide strike of bus owners and transporters entered the second day. The bus, truck and van owners decided to go on a strike from Friday in protest against fuel price hike in Bangladesh. Read: Transport strike in Khulna: Pressure of passengers on trainIn the capital, all buses -- intra and inter-city -- and microbuses stayed off the roads for the second day in a row. People travelling to and from distant areas as well as the office-goers were the most affected. In many areas of the city, UNB found people waiting on the roads, desperately looking to hail ride-sharing cabs and shared autos to reach their destination. Several commuters complained that the auto and cycle rickshaw drivers were taking advantage of the situation by overcharging them. "Auto drivers are demanding double the fare. It's a nightmare for us," said an office-goer. Traffic inspector Akteruzzaman (Uttara Rajlaxmi), said, “I have not spotted a single bus on the roads since morning. Only cabs, private vehicles and autos are plying." On Thursday, Convenor of Bangladesh Truck-Covered Van, Tank Lorry and Prime Movers Owners and Workers Coordination Council Md Rustom Ali announced their decision to go on an indefinite strike, following an emergency meeting. Read: Counter-protest: DU admission seekers block Dhaka-Aricha highway Leaders of the Council said the government raised the toll tax for using Bangabandhu Bridge and Muktarpur Bridge from 257% to 300% “illogically” on November 2 and then it raised the prices of fuel. "Transport services had remained suspended for a long time due to Covid in the past two years. When the transport owners are trying to make a turnaround from their huge losses caused by the Covid shutdown, the decision of raising the bridge toll and fuel prices was announced," the Council said in a statement.

Dhaka, Oct 1 (UNB) – City dwellers witnessed heavy rains for about two hours on Tuesday that inundated roads and lanes in many parts of the capital triggered huge traffic tailbacks.