By Halim Mohammad (Dhaka Bureau)
Although institutional operations across 72 prisons in Bangladesh are conducted under the humane and reformist slogan ‘Not a jail, but a correction center,’ the reality on the ground is starkly different. The country’s penal system has increasingly degenerated into a deeply discriminatory state mechanism. Within this system, captivity for those with wealth and power translates into a life of pampered luxury, while for ordinary, penniless citizens, it has become a living hell.
According to human rights activists and prison experts, correctional facilities are fundamentally meant to be controlled, rigorous, and egalitarian spaces of rehabilitation for those who break societal laws. However, in Bangladeshi prisons, personal connections, political identity, and financial leverage now carry far more weight than institutional regulations.
‘Operation Devil Hunt’ and the Prison Overcrowding Crisis
In the recent political landscape, ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, a nationwide drive titled ‘Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2’ was conducted with the joint participation of law enforcement agencies and military personnel. Under this operation, individuals implicated in various cases and criminal activities were arrested daily, with their ultimate destination being the country’s various correctional facilities.
Currently, while the official capacity of the 72 prisons in the country stands at 42,887 inmates, the actual prison population has swelled past 82,000- nearly double the structural capacity. Crucially, the burden of this severe overcrowding does not fall equally on everyone. The acute crisis of space and the resulting inhumane conditions are borne entirely by ordinary and impoverished inmates. Meanwhile, affluent prisoners easily secure accommodation in separate, quiet, and comfortable blocks.
Two Policies Under One Roof: Pampered by Wealth and Power
Investigations reveal that money is now the primary driving force inside Bangladeshi prisons. Spending hundreds of thousands of Taka monthly can radically transform an inmate’s life. Special meals, private accommodations, premium medical care, and regular communication with the outside world are all readily achievable through financial clout. Wealthy inmates with chronic illnesses even enjoy exclusive privileges, such as keeping insulin in refrigerators. Furthermore, for influential individuals, hospital prison cells or specialized rooms have effectively turned into centers of leisurely living.
A bizarre phenomenon has also emerged following the political transition of August 5. For many influential political figures, prison has become the safest sanctuary to escape retaliatory violence, lawsuits, and attacks on the outside. Citing the example of a top leader of the youth wing (Awami league) from a district adjacent to the capital, former ordinary inmates stated that he maintained regular contact with party activists from inside the prison walls and virtually dictated internal operations. Decisions regarding who stayed where and what they ate were all carried out under his management, while prison authorities remained silent spectators.
The Indescribable Hell on the Other Side: Severe Human Rights Violations
In sharp contrast to the privileged, the conditions for ordinary inmates are profoundly tragic and inhumane. Hundreds of poor and average prisoners do not even have a minimal space to sleep at night; they are forced to spend sleepless nights packed tightly together.
* Food and Health: The regular prison food is of such low quality that it is barely edible, causing many to fall ill. Once sick, accessing a government doctor or receiving proper medical treatment turns into an uphill battle.
* Sanitation and Water: The condition of the toilet facilities is deplorable. There is an acute shortage of water, and cleanliness is virtually nonexistent.
* Winter Hardships: Lacking essential warm clothing during winter, many impoverished inmates are forced to endure freezing nights shivering in discomfort.
Abdur Rahman, a victim who recently secured bail, shared that he was confined in both the Kashimpur and Keraniganj prisons due to political vendettas. Although he received relatively decent treatment after spending large sums of money, he witnessed firsthand how penniless, ordinary inmates were subjected to subhuman conditions. ‘There is absolutely no such thing as human rights for ordinary people in there,’ he lamented.
The ‘Division’ System and Visible Disparity
Following the July 2024 mass uprising, over a hundred influential individuals- including former ministers, members of parliament, bureaucrats, police officials, and journalists- were arrested. A large segment of them received ‘Division’ status. Although the classification of first-class or division prisoners is legally valid under prison codes, human rights activists argue that this institutionalized disparity becomes deeply glaring and questionable when ordinary inmates are simultaneously denied basic, humane amenities.
Authorities’ Stance and the Challenges of Reform
Government officials partially acknowledge this systemic discrimination within the penal system. Assistant Inspector General of Prisons, Md. Jannat-ul Farhad, stated that the government is actively working to improve the overall prison environment.
‘Disciplinary actions have already been taken against over three hundred officials on charges of facilitating illegal communications and smuggling drugs,’ he noted. ‘Those who had formed syndicates by staying at a single prison for an extended period have been transferred to remote facilities. Strict measures are also being implemented to halt mobile phone usage inside prisons.’ He added, however, that correcting the deep-rooted disparities within the existing framework cannot happen overnight, and reshaping the system will require time.
The Pressenza Perspective
The fundamental premise for building a nonviolent and humane world relies on ensuring core human rights and equality across all state institutions. Subjecting prisoners to such class discrimination and degrading treatment under the guise of punishment or rehabilitation cannot be the benchmark of a civilized society. If Bangladesh’s prison system is to truly transform into a network of ‘correction centers,’ dismantling corruption and the abuse of power to establish equal human dignity for all inmates- regardless of wealth or status- is an urgent necessity.
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The Writer:
Halim Mohammad: Senior Journalist and Contributor, Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau.
