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Introduction
Types of prisons
There are eighty prisons in Bangladesh of which nine are central jails, fiftyfive are district jails and sixteen jails are in upazilla level (Upazilla jails are defunct).
Apart from these formal prisons, vagrant homes and juvenile correction centers are
the extended forms of prisons. At present there are six vagrant homes and two
correction centres in the country run under the control and supervision of the
Department of Social Services. People apprehended by police on different grounds of
vagrancy etc and alleged juvenile offenders are kept in these institutions until their
legal guardians are found or terms of detention is over or are properly rectified.
There are nine central Jails in Bangladesh1. Dhaka Central Jail
Dhaka Central Jail Unit-1,Kashimpur,Gazipur,
Dhaka Central Jail Unit-2,Kashimpur,Gazipur
Dhaka Central Jail Unit-3,Kashimpur,Gazipur
2. Chittagong Central Jail
3. Mymensing Central Jail
4. Rajshahi Central Jail
5. Comilla Central Jail
6. Jessore Central Jail
7. Sylhet Central Jail
8. Barisal Central Jail
9. Rangpur Central Jail
The 80 prisons in Bangladesh can be divided into two major types:Central Jails- Central Jails are for the confinement of prisoners under trial,
administrative detainees and convicted prisoners sentenced to a term of imprisonment,
including imprisonment for life, and the death sentence. There are nine such central
jails, which could also be called maximum-security prisons.
District Jails- District Jails located at the headquarters of the district, are used for the
confinement of all categories of prisoners, except those convicted prisoners whose
sentence exceeds 5 years. District jails also hold long-term convicted prisoners if
ordered by the Inspector General of Prisons/Deputy Inspector General of Prisons.
There are 55 such district jails, which could be called "medium security prisons."
There are other two kinds of Jails in Bangladesh
Sub Jails- Sub Jails are located at the administrative headquarter of a sub-division.
They mainly hold the under trial prisoners and short term convicted prisoners. The
design capacity ranges from 70 to 200.
Thana jails-In addition to central and district jails, there are 16 Thana jails, known as
"detention houses," located at 16 Thana headquarters. If Thana jails are included,
there are some 80 jails in Bangladesh.
Prison Administration
The Ministry of Home Affairs, through the Directorate of Prisons, exercises
overall responsibility for proper management of the prison system. One Inspector
General works as the chief of Bangladesh called IG prison. There is also a post of
additional Inspector General each prison is administered by sergeants, guards and
other prison staff, under the supervision of the Superintendent of Jails. In the districts,
the highest civilian official, the Deputy Commissioner, oversees the working of the
jails, and is expected, along with district judicial officers, to visit the jails to supervise
their management and receive complaints, if any, from the prisoners. Health services
to them are provided by the staff of the district hospital.
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Junior
Consultant
Sub-Jail
Assistant
Sergeant
Jail
Chief
Deputy
Superintendent
Jail
Superintendent
Metron
Jailor
Jail
Jail
Guard
Instructor
Jailor
Guard
Inspector
Structure
Most of the buildings providing accommodation for prisoners were built
during the British period. Due to cracked rooftop, old electric wiring and inadequate
sanitation facilities, these buildings have become risky for the prisoners to live in.
Capacity versus Prisoners when it established first
Jail
Established
Capacity
Number of
Prisoners
Dhaka
1788
2500
12000
Chittagong
1885
1047
4700
Mymensing
1887
725
3000
Capacity
All the jails in Bangladesh can accommodate a total of twenty four thousand
five hundred and thirty eight (24, 538) prisoners. In an estimate (in 2001) a total of
sixty four thousand eight hundred and ninety (64,890) prisoners were staying in the
jails which means the number of prisoners in the jail is three times higher than the
actual capacity. Of them 1,827 are women, 1029 are children, including 129 girl
children. In 1991 the figure was only forty thousand. In the last one decade the
number of total prisoners has increased by twenty one thousand whereas the capacity
of the jails increased only by about three thousand. In 2001, a survey was conducted
in different jails to find out the actual number of women and their children living in
the jails against the capacity of the jails.
Women and Children living in different jails in 2001.
Jail
Accommodation for
women
Comilla
22
78 +12 Children
Rajshahi
41
80+5 Children
Dhaka
84
400+18 Children
Chittagong
17
90+10 Children
capacity
23,942
24,997
25,018
25,396
26,157
27,112
27,254
27,254
27,451
Number of Prisoners
60,887
62,486
75,135
69,519
74,710
72,836
68,278
85,941
87,011
Most dreadful fact is that the children and adolescents have to stay with notorious
under trial terrorists and drug addicts. Statistics show that there are children and adult
who remain under trial for more than five years when the alleged offence only deserve
an imprisonment of only 2/3 years.
Classification of Prisoners
Division I
Division II
Division III
Division I and Division II inmates- Division I and Division II inmates are
person who by social status, education and habit of life have been
accustomed to superior living standards(Bengal jail code,1937,page-313).
In general, the division and the political prisoner are the most privileged class in the
jail. The daily and the weekly newspapers are supplied to the division prisoners from
a government approved list and subject to censorship. They are allowed more visiting
time with relatives and friends. Ordinary prisoners are not entitled to have a
newspaper
Accommodation
Food
According to the Code each convicted prisoner is supposed to get 250 gm (5
chatak) of rice, 125 gm of roti while the persons in lock up will get 200gm (4 chatak)
of rice, 87 gm roti everyday. Apart from these, prisoners are supposed to get 133 gm
of vegetables and 72 gm of fish or /meat. Whatever they receive is very scanty and
sub standard. They get fish/meat once a week and for breakfast (at 8:00 am) a piece of
hard bread and some molasses. In the afternoon they get rice, vegetable and pulse (at
12:00 noon). Supper is served at 4:00 pm. Food poisoning in very common in the jail.
On June 22, 2001, 300 prisoners in Jessore jail were attacked by severe diarrhea. As
mentioned earlier, the situation is reverse for those who can pay. Again children are
more vulnerable in such situation.
2.12- 18 months- milk 300gm(6 chatak), rice 100gm(2 chatak), and pulse 25gm3.1824 months- milk 300gm (6 chatak), rice 200gm (4 chatak) and pulse 25gm
Programmes in Jails
There is no counseling or therapy provided in jails. Inmates do not have access
to telephones and law libraries. There are no day rooms, exercise area or dinning
facilities for the inmates. Written correspondence with family and outside is very
limited. Ordinary prisoners can write one letter in a month, division prisoners can
write twice in a month. But in reality some poor and illiterate inmates cannot take this
advantage
10
There are certain jobs, which are earmarked for the children. They are:
1. Watering trees/ Gardening
2. Shoe polishing
3. Grass cutting for the Cattle of the officers
4. Entertaining (!) officers / Adult Prisoners
5. Domestic Helpers
Since 1972 about 25 revolts took place in different jails. In most cases government
has controlled them with iron hands. According to government estimate about 25-90
people were killed, who are quite young in age. Jail revolt makes children and women
more vulnerable, because in many occasions they are taken as hostages. Forced
hunger strike is not new in the jail. This also brings immense sufferings for the
children and women.
Over the years, the steady rise in the prison population has not
been accompanied by any initiative to set up new hospitals or to improve
health care facilities in existing jail hospitals. According to the DIG
(Prisons), "Not only the general prisoners, every one in jails suffers
because of the shortage of doctors and other health care facilities".
Reportedly there are only 16 doctors against 77 posts to look after about
90,000 inmates in jails all over the country. Hospital facilities are available
in twelve prisons only and the remaining prisons lack any such health
service facilities; none of these hospitals has an ambulance for emergency
transport. Usually, these hospital beds
are occupied by rich and powerful prisoners; so that other prisoners in
serious condition are denied access to appropriate treatment. On the other
hand, the VIP prisoners get extra priority and advantages in treatment;
they even occupy all beds for prisoners available in specialized prison
wings of Government hospitals. Most of their prison time in hospital bed.
The Inspector General of Prisons said, There is a tendency of ailing high
profile prisoners to get hospitalized and stay there as long as possible. It
was also revealed that in many cases the doctors concerned at hospitals
let them prolong their stay citing various made-up causes and excuse.
(Source: The Daily Jugantor, 9 October 2008.Karagare baithoker
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Inqilab,
12
Over Crowding
Year
Registered
capacity
Actual population
Convicts
Detainees
1993
20,980
41,618
15,058
823
1994
21,247
41,861
15,564
981
1995
21,247
42,768
15,705
1,251
1996
21,581
43,095
12,714
1,334
1997
21,581
45,443
13,078
1,345
Source: Human Security In Prisons: The Quest For Protection And Reform Of
Prisoners
Under trial prisoners include those waiting for trial and those whose trials
are in progress
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Month/Year
January 2001
January 2002
January 2003
January 2004
January 2005
January 2006
January 2007
May 2007
July 2008
capacity
23,942
24,997
25,018
25,396
26,157
27,112
27,254
27,254
27,451
Number of Prisoners
60,887
62,486
75,135
69,519
74,710
72,836
68,278
85,941
87,011
10,000 inmates, three times more than its actual capacity of 2,682 only.5 The
Chittagong Central Jail accommodated 6,468 prisoners, against a capacity of 1,507
only. The usual overcrowding were exacerbated by the sudden jump in mass arrests.
Reportedly between 28 May-12 June, on average some 1,698 persons were arrested
every day, compared to 1,291 in May-June 2007. The consequent over crowding, and
scarcity of food space and facilities has encouraged further corruption and malpractice
in the jail administration. Reportedly the prison authority terminated at least 130
prison staff to control corruption.
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Sl. No.
Nature of crime
Male
Female
Total
Per cent
1.
Possession of
illegal arms
5,344
33
5,377
12
2.
Murder
10,654
350
11,004
24
3.
Dacoit and
dacoit with murder
6,605
38
6,646
15
4.
Cruelty to women
and children
4,141
399
4,540
10
5.
17,202
678
17,880
39
43,946
1,498
45,447
100
Total
Source: Human Security In Prisons: The Quest For Protection And Reform Of
Prisoners
15
16
It is noted that prisons still follow the outdated statute books of the
British colonial rulers that were framed in the 19th century Ac-cording to
these old statutes, the main objective of the prison system was the
confinement and safe custody of prisoners through suppressive and
punitive measures. There has been no significant modification in the jail
code, nor have the vital recommendations of the Jail Reform Commission
been implemented. A full transformation of this punitive system is
required in order to stop violations of the legal rights and human security
of prisoners, as guar-anteed by Article 44 of the Constitution.
17
18
There are two committees, one for the selection of tenders and the
other for acceptance of tenders, composed of department officers (under
governmental executive order). The committee for selection of tenders is
headed by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Prisons; he meets
concerned parties at the various jails biannually for selection. But tendears are accepted centrally by the Inspector General of Prisons, with the
help of a commit-tee formed with his officers at the prison directorate. It is
felt that selection and acceptance of tenders by department officers can
promote corruption. The existing interview system is also inadequate and
open to corruption. At present one interview per month is granted to an
ordinary convict. Corrupt practices prevail among certain classes of
officers in granting interviews to inmates.
Inadequate
Prisoners
Protection
of
Women
and
Child
19
following projects to improve the state of prisons .When these projects are completed,
the over-crowding problem will be eased to some ex-tent, and a more congenial
atmosphere will be created for reform activities, by way of ex-tending vocational,
religious and academic training facilities to inmates. It may also be possible to grant
some monetary remuneration to working convicts in the newly expanded industries
for their future rehabilitation. Some NGOs and businesses are already assisting
released offenders by providing them with employment for their re-socialization.
Financial support for the new and additional projects will be made available from
government agencies and international
Prison Violence
In general it is hoped that whatever inhuman environment exists in jails lives
are secured there. But in jails of Bangladesh prisoners have not only been attacked
and injured but also killed in the hands of terrorist prisoners. The terrorist prisoners in
jails abuse children and adolescents every now and then.
Violence is common at the prisons. Inmate-on-inmate violence is an unsurprising
result of official slackness. By neglecting to take charge of the inmates within their
facilities, by failing to act in response to incidences of violence, by wickedly allowing
the entry of armaments into the prisons, and by generally abetting the domination of
the strongest prisoners over the weakest, prison authorities are directly liable for the
violence.
Extortion by prison staff and corruption of the guards is common. Given the
extensive power that prison guards exercise over inmates, these problems are obvious.
The poorly paid guards try to complement their regular earnings by exploiting the
prisoners as bait for their friends and relatives. In exchange for smuggled goods or
special attention and treatment, inmates supplement guards' salaries with bribes.
Powerful and rich inmates often enjoy rich diets and comfortable lodgings, while their
less opportune brethren live in nastiness. It is alleged that some criminals, in
collaboration with the prisons guards, keep on operating and networking their gang
activities outside while being locked up inside the prisons.
Deaths in Prison
20
the prison authorities, many died from sickness. It was reported that at
least 49 prisoners were admitted into Dhaka Central jail hospital with
serious injuries and wounds but failed to get required urgent treatment
outside the prison. Besides the deaths for various causes, two convicts
were hanged to death upto November this year and one convict (who was
a freedom fighter) sentenced for hanging was pardoned by the President
just a few hours before his execution at the personal request by the Army
Chief of Staff.
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2. Patients with complex cases should be sent to external hospital for specialized
treatment. There should be separate segregated wards in prison hospitals to
treat prisoners suffering from infectious diseases and drug addiction. The
required number of modern appliances (X-ray, ECG, and reagents) should be
procured from the central medical store or other sources. Facilities for the
specialized treatment and major operations of ailing prisoners as existing in
many developed countries, as well as in some developing countries, should be
made easily available (such as postgraduate (PG) prison annex)
The following initiatives should be taken for medical facilities in prison
a. Improvement in the prison laboratory facilities
b. Perform culture sampling of suspected cases which have
negative
sputum
microscopy results
c. Improve prison x-ray facilities (for AFB -ve suspected cases)
d. Prisoner education/motivation (TB signs/symptoms, stop
spitting,
regular
anti-TB drug intake)
e. Develop proper referral system post jail release
f. Strengthening TB control programme in other jails of country
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5.
6.
7.
23
Conclusion
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