Munshiganj (South) Correspondent 

Four individuals convicted in two ongoing drug cases under the Munshiganj court have been granted probation and, as part of contributing positively to society. 

The work began the day after Eid-ul-Azha and was completed on Thursday night.

During an on-site visit around noon on Friday, it was found that the convicts, after receiving probation, voluntarily began painting speed bumps starting from the “Sheba Batayan” in front of the District Commissioner’s main gate the day after Eid, i.e., last Sunday. Within five consecutive days, they painted speed bumps located at South Courtgaon Lichutola, the Central Shaheed Minar in the Old Court area, in front of Munshiganj Municipality, the city’s main market, and the Khalist area—covering a total of 11 speed breakers.

Confirming the matter, Court Nazir Md. Abu Hanif stated that the painting was done under the supervision of recently retired Senior Judicial Magistrate Shahidul Islam, from the Sheba Batayan gate to the Police Station Bridge in the city. The initiative was aimed at preventing road accidents and was carried out by the four convicts as a noble act under the magistrate’s direction.

He added that at the end of May this year, Munshiganj Judicial Magistrate Court-3 sentenced each of the four accused in two separate drug cases to one year of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Tk 5,000, with an additional one-month simple imprisonment in case of default. During sentencing, the convicts pleaded for an opportunity to contribute to society, which prompted the judge to propose they paint speed bumps on the city’s main roads to help prevent accidents. The convicts agreed to the proposal, and the judge immediately suspended the sentence and granted probation.

When asked about their experience, the convicts chose not to disclose their identities but said they were happy to contribute to society even after being convicted in drug cases. They expressed interest in participating in more social work as part of their rehabilitation.

Monir Hossain, a battery-run auto-rickshaw driver in the city, said that although there were speed bumps at important points on the road, they were unpainted. This made nighttime driving risky and prone to accidents. Now that the speed bumps are painted, vehicle movement has become safer.

Md. Kashem Molla (62), a pedestrian, said that due to the lack of paint, drivers often couldn’t see the speed bumps, leading to passengers getting jolted or nearly thrown out of vehicles. He appreciated the efforts of those who painted the speed bumps and considered it a good deed for society.

Advocate Md. Parvez Alam, General Secretary of the District Bar Association, said that granting probation is within the discretionary power of the court. If someone is found guilty or confesses to a crime, they can request probation. If the court deems it appropriate, a probation officer is tasked to investigate the offender’s background, family, and social context and submit a pre-sentencing report. If the officer finds potential for rehabilitation through community-based corrections, probation is recommended; otherwise, the sentence is carried out. The court may also grant probation on its own initiative based on case documents and circumstances.

Md. Sakhawat Hossain, Inspector of the Munshiganj District Traffic Department, said he was unaware of who painted the speed bumps, but regardless of who funded the work, it is undoubtedly a praiseworthy initiative.