'Bangladesh Jail' to be renamed 'Correction Services Bangladesh': IG prisons
Over 2,700 inmates escaped during the July uprising, with 700 still at large, he says
The government plans to rename "Bangladesh Jail" to "Correction Services Bangladesh," Inspector General of Prisons Brigadier General Syed Md Motaher Hossain said today (26 August).
At a press briefing held at the Directorate of Prisons headquarters in Bakshibazar, Dhaka, he said the move aims to place greater emphasis on correction and rehabilitation.
He also stated that a draft Correction Services Act 2025 has already been finalised and submitted for government approval, with the aim of modernising prison laws and making them more relevant to present-day needs.
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To tackle overcrowding, Motaher Hossain added, 2 new central prisons and 4 district jails have recently been opened. For improved coordination, Dhaka Division has also been split into two administrative zones.
At the briefing, the inspector general of prisons said more than 2,700 inmates escaped during the July mass uprising, with 700 still at large.
He also disclosed that 29 firearms looted from prison armouries during the unrest remain unrecovered.
Among the fugitives are 9 identified militants and 69 convicts sentenced to death or life imprisonment. The rest were serving a range of other sentences, he said.
He further noted that 163 prisoners currently enjoy division facilities, while 28 other applications are pending approval.
He further emphasised that the prison system is undergoing significant reforms to balance security requirements with rehabilitation efforts, paving the way for a more modern, correction-oriented institution.
