Col Waliur Rahman has been appointed Inspector General (IG) of Prisons on deputation, according to sources in the Ministry of Establishment.

The letter of his appointment was Issued by the ministry on January 30 and he is likely to take over soon, the sources added.

The post of the IG (Prisons) was vacant since August last year. The DIG (Prisons). Dhaka Central Jail, had been dlscharg-

ing the responsibility as acting IG (Prisons).

The Ministry of Establishment had earlier suggested the government to appoint the IG (Prisons) from among prison officials qualifying for the post, according to reports.

In a recent written reply to the authorities concerned, the ministry said that as per the Jail Code and service rules, three out of the four Deputy Inspectors General of (Prisons) fulfilled the requirement to be appointed IG (Prisons), the sources said.

The Jail Reforms Commission of 1981 in its recommendations had also suggested for appointment of the IG (Prisons) from the same service to facilitate reforms in prison management. the sources said.

The post of the IG (Prisons) fell vacant in August last year when the then IG (Prisons) who had been serving on deputation from the army, was sent back after the Jail break incident in the Dhaka Central Jail in July. Thirteen prisoners had escaped from the Jail in the incident.

It was reported that two inquiry committees, set up following the Jail break incident had also recommended for appointment of the IG (Prisons! from the same service.