The Department of Prisons has taken an initiative to rename the prison system to “Correction Services Bangladesh,” as part of its efforts to transform its facilities from mere detention centers to rehabilitation and correction centers.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday at the Prisons Directorate headquarters, Inspector General of Prisons Brig Gen Syed Md Motaher Hossain said, “The department is taking various steps to modernise the system, including the development of new laws, increase the manpower, infrastructure improvements, and enhancing the quality of services provided to inmates.
“The draft of the ‘Correction Services Act 2025’ has been finalised. We want to turn prisons into correctional services, not just places for detaining people. Those who come here will not only leave as inmates but will return to society as reformed individuals.”
The inspector general further explained that to give more emphasis to the correctional programs, the name of Bangladesh’s prisons is being changed to “Correction Services Bangladesh.”
To align with this, the “Correction Services Act 2025” draft has been finalized and is awaiting government approval.
“This draft law will bring modernization to the prison system and ensure it aligns with international standards.”
He also mentioned the establishment of two new central prisons and four district prisons to handle the overcrowding issue.
To improve coordination, the Dhaka Division has been split into two administrative units.
The inspector general highlighted that prisons have been facing a long-standing shortage of staff.
“Recently, the government approved the recruitment of 1,899 new personnel, and another 1,500 are in the recruitment pipeline. This new recruitment will allow for better security and smoother administrative operations inside the prisons,” he said.
Further, the allocation for prisoners’ food has been increased, and strict monitoring is now in place to ensure the quality of meals.
To improve transparency in family communication, phone calls and visitation systems have been digitised.
To reduce the hassle of transporting inmates to court, virtual court participation has been introduced.
Additionally, the 20 Years Rule, which had been inactive for some time, has been reinstated, leading to the release of several prisoners.
Regarding the long-standing complaints about the bail process, the Inspector General mentioned that strict instructions have been given to address these issues.
Furthermore, significant steps are being taken to combat corruption and irregularities, with several officials already facing punishment or dismissal.
The welfare of prison staff has also been addressed, with approval granted for lifelong ration benefits for retired prison officers. Modern training, healthcare, and career development opportunities are being provided to the current staff.
He concluded, “Our goal is to build a transparent, modern, and humane prison system. We are committed to transforming prisons into genuine correctional facilities and are working towards making this a reality.”