Local Correspondent , Gazipur – In a shocking lapse of security, a 21-year-old female inmate successfully escaped from the high-security Kashimpur Central Women’s Jail in Gazipur on Thursday evening.
The convict, identified as Rimpa, managed to break out of the facility just eight days after being incarcerated, triggering widespread panic within the prison administration and leading to the immediate suspension of seven prison staff members.
Rimpa, daughter of Hasan from Raipur village in Gangni upazila of Meherpur, had been residing in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar area.
She was sent to the Kashimpur jail on July 9, 2026, after being sentenced to three months in prison by a court in connection with a Criminal Regular (CR) case filed with Dhanmondi Police Station.
The Great Escape
According to prison sources, the incident occurred on Thursday evening (July 16) while several female inmates were tasked with carrying bricks inside the prison compound.
Exploiting a lapse in surveillance, Rimpa scaled the cornice of the office building adjacent to the main boundary wall and leaped over the perimeter to freedom.
The prison authorities initially launched a massive internal search sweep but failed to locate her. Her escape was later confirmed after officials reviewed the prison’s CCTV footage.
Standard operating procedures dictate that all inmates must be locked in their cells by 5:00 PM. Prison officials admitted that the failure to lock up the inmates on time provided Rimpa with the perfect window of opportunity to execute her daring getaway.
Crackdown on Negligence
Following a preliminary investigation that uncovered blatant negligence of duty, the prison authorities suspended seven staff members.
The suspended officials include three matrons—Laila Anjuman Sumi, Marina, and Rehena—and four female prison guards—Shayla, Sharmin, Jemi, and Asma. A formal committee has also been formed to thoroughly investigate the security failure.
Speaking on the incident, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Prisons, Jannatul Farhad, stated that a formal case has been lodged with Konabari Police Station.
“Police and law enforcement agencies are actively working to rearrest the fugitive. We are closely investigating how an inmate could escape despite such rigorous security measures,” AIG Jannatul Farhad said.
He further added, “Inmate Rimpa could not be found inside the jail after 7:30 PM on Thursday. Our teams are on the ground and have found a significant clue. The fugitive used a local resident’s mobile phone in the Konabari area to contact her family. Raids are ongoing based on this lead.”
Police Action Underway
Confirming the breach, Iftekhar Hossain, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Konabari Police Station under the Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP), stated that Jailer Shirin Akter filed a General Diary (GD) regarding the escape on Friday.
A coordinated manhunt is currently underway, with multiple law enforcement units tracking the fugitive’s movements to bring her back into custody.
The incident has raised serious questions about the internal discipline and security protocols at one of the country’s most prominent correctional facilities.