Bangladesh, in a one-of-a-kind move, has opened a factory inside a prison facility which will at the same time offer an opportunity for the prisoners to earn and contribute to the state coffers.
The factory, named Resilience Garment Industry, is a knitwear production facility that started operations today (December 27, 2017) at Narayanganj District Jail with 57 machines. Bangladesh Home Minister formally inaugurated the production facility.
“The factory can deliver up to US $ 1.5 million per annum,” said Selim Osman, President of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) at the inaugural.
Resilience Garment Industry is a state-owned entity that occupies a 5,000 sq. ft. space inside the 12-acre compound of Narayanganj District Jail. The revenue it generates will be split into three quarters – one will be as the wages for the workers, and the other two fractions divided between the jail and state coffer.
BKMEA provided necessary assistance and financing to Narayanganj District Jail to make the project a reality.
According to the last statistics released in November, there were about 2,150 prisoners in the prison and about 300 prisoners will be working at the factory now, said Subhash Das, the prison’s superintendent.
“All the prisoners at different prisons of the country are provided with training for their reform and are given all kinds of facilities. Gradually, they will be provided with more facilities,” Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said during the inaugural.
BKMEA President Selim Osman said that these types of initiatives have an emotional appeal and compel buyers to place orders. He, however, stressed the need for easy access to the prison factory for factory inspection and visit to expect delivery from it in full capacity.
