Bangladesh Jail to be renamed as Custodial and Correctional Service Bangladesh: IG Prisons

Inspector General (IG) of Prisons Brigadier General Syed Md. Motaher Hossain today (18 August) said Bangladesh is moving to transform its prison system into a more modern, humane, transparent and technology-driven institution, with authorities planning to rename the country's jail service as "Custodial and Correctional Service Bangladesh."

"An initiative has already been taken to turn Bangladesh Jail into Custodial and Correctional Service Bangladesh," he said at a press conference at the Department of Prisons, outlining a series of reforms undertaken over the past two years.

He said the move reflects a broader shift in the philosophy of prison management, where jails will no longer be viewed merely as places of detention but as institutions focused on security, rehabilitation, skills development, humanity and the eventual reintegration of inmates into society.

"Policy-level work on the proposed new name is currently underway, while steps have also been taken to modernise prison laws and regulations in line with contemporary requirements," he said.

As part of the modernisation drive, he said that Munshiganj District Jail has been introduced as a cashless prison to increase transparency.

Prison headquarters and divisional administrative structures have also been reorganised to improve efficiency, he said.

The government has approved 1,899 new posts to address manpower shortages, while a further 1,500 posts have been sought, he said, adding that recruitment procedures are also being made more transparent, competitive, merit-based and technology-driven.

Authorities have taken steps to resolve long-standing promotion complications and improve career progression within the prison administration, he said.

To reduce overcrowding, he said two central prisons and four district prisons have already been brought into operation, he added.

"Technology is also playing an increasingly important role. Prisons across the country have been connected through the Prison Directorate's own fibre-optic network, while inmate telephone calls and visitation systems have been brought under digital management.

Authorities are also exploring the use of AI-based technology for monitoring and prison management," he also said.

The authorities are also expanding rehabilitation and skills-development programmes, he said.

Sports, cultural activities, religious education, counselling and other programmes have been introduced to support inmates' mental and personal development, he said.

Video-call facilities are also available at selected prisons, including Narayanganj District Jail, allowing inmates to maintain closer contact with their families, he added.

Healthcare services are also set for expansion, with an initiative underway to establish a Central Prison Hospital in Keraniganj, the IG prisons said.

Recommendations have been received for the appointment of 55 diploma nurses, while 77 ambulances have recently been added to the prison department's transport and equipment inventory, he stated.

Environmental management has also become part of the reform programme, the prisons chief said, adding that authorities are working to improve waste collection, segregation, processing and disposal, while encouraging the reuse of recyclable materials. Around 18,000 trees have been planted at Sylhet-1, Kishoreganj-1 and Khulna New Jails.

Bangladesh currently has 75 prisons while 21 prisons require renovation, according to the IG prisons.