The government is considering a reduction in the duration of life imprisonment, particularly for elderly prisoners, Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Sunday.
Speaking at a press briefing after a meeting of the Core Committee on Law and Order at the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka, the adviser noted that the proposal is still under consideration.
According to the Penal Code of 1860, a life sentence in Bangladesh currently lasts 30 years. However, Adviser Jahangir Alam suggested that for elderly women, the sentence could be reduced to 20 years. For men, the sentence may extend slightly beyond 30 years, depending on their age at the time of sentencing. He emphasized that the proposal would be subject to certain conditions and has not yet been finalized.
Addressing recent protests in Faridpur’s Vanga Upazila, where residents blocked national highways demanding the redrawing of two parliamentary constituencies, the adviser stated that such actions were unacceptable. “The matter is under the Election Commission, which has already made its decision after considering all arguments. If locals have grievances, they should address them through proper channels rather than resorting to road blockades,” he said. He also warned that law enforcement agencies would take action if the blockade continued.
The meeting also covered a range of important issues, including police training, preparations for the upcoming national elections, measures to curb crimes such as theft and robbery, and steps to prevent cross-border drug smuggling. The arrangements for the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations and the recovery of stolen weapons were also discussed. Additionally, preparations for the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RACSU) and Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CHAKSU) elections were reviewed.
Senior officials present at the briefing included Senior Secretary Nasimul Gani of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam.
