On Tuesday, an Awami League leader, arbitrarily arrested in an explosives and vandalism case filed by the current interim government, died in Bogura Jail. Under the leadership of interim Prime Minister Dr. Muhammad Yunus, over 50 prisoners have died in jails across the country in the past six months, including five Awami League leaders in Bogura District Jail alone. These incidents have sparked nationwide discussions. This is not just a problem of a specific prison; rather, it reflects the irregularities, corruption, and human rights violations plaguing Bangladesh’s prison system.
Human Rights Violations and Extreme Mismanagement in Prisons
Bangladesh’s prisons have long suffered from extreme mismanagement and corruption. Under the government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Yunus, this situation has worsened. While the prison capacity is 42,877, the number of inmates is 70,065. This overcrowding is a clear violation of human rights. Overcrowding has disrupted basic healthcare, nutritious food, sanitation facilities, and fundamental human rights. Most prisoners are forced to sleep on the floor, creating an unhygienic environment.
While influential government officials enjoy special division facilities, ordinary prisoners are subjected to inhumane living conditions. Even some ministers of the Awami League government have been deprived of division facilities, reflecting the biased policies of the Yunus regime. Another major aspect of prison corruption is the exchange of money for special privileges. Influential inmates receive better food, air-conditioned rooms, and mobile phones, which is unethical and violates human rights.
Deaths in Prisons: Who is Responsible?
Under the Yunus regime, Awami League leaders and activists have been dying one after another in prisons. In Bogura Jail alone, five deaths have occurred, reflecting state-sponsored torture. Typically, the responsibility for prisoners’ lives lies with the prison authorities. However, the reality is that prison healthcare systems are fragile, health services are limited, and the quality of treatment is questionable. While the causes of death in Bogura are cited as heart disease and other health complications, mismanagement, medical negligence, unhygienic conditions, or other special factors may be responsible. These cases demand impartial investigations.
Corruption and Insecurity in Prison Administration
The free flow of drugs, mobile phones, and cash in prisons is a daily occurrence. The Inspector General of Prisons has admitted that in the last three months, 275 raids in Keraniganj Jail alone recovered a large quantity of illegal items. The question is, how are these items entering the prisons? Prisoners are not directly connected to the outside world. Clearly, this is impossible without the support of corrupt prison officials and staff. While occasional raids recover some items, no long-term solution to the core problem is being implemented; instead, corrupt individuals are growing stronger.
Escape of Militants and Hardened Criminals
Due to severe security failures under the Yunus regime, 700 prisoners have escaped from various jails across the country after August 5, with 69 still at large. Among these fugitives are death row convicts, life-term prisoners, and notorious militants, posing a serious threat to national security.
Notably, the banned militant organization Hizb ut-Tahrir has held public protests, with fugitive militants present. Law enforcement agencies have failed to suppress them, reflecting the government’s weakness and incompetence. These incidents show that fugitive prisoners are not just in hiding but are actively engaged in anti-state activities.
Additionally, Islamist extremist groups in Kashimpur Jail have openly threatened jailors and superintendents to release militant leaders. This reflects the weakness of prison administration and the severe deterioration of the government’s security system.
Government’s Role: Political Motives?
The question arises: why is the Yunus government not taking effective steps to address prison mismanagement and insecurity? Is their failure merely administrative incompetence, or is there a deliberate political motive behind it?
After August 5, the repeated jailbreaks allowing militants to escape and the deaths of Awami League political prisoners raise suspicions—is this mere negligence or a conscious conspiracy? The Yunus government’s indifference suggests they are not incapable of controlling these incidents but are deliberately allowing the situation to deteriorate.
Suggested Solutions
- Increase Prison Capacity: Build new prisons and introduce alternative punishments (community service or bail).
- Curb Corruption in Prison Administration: Take strict action against guilty officials and ensure transparency in prison management.
- Ensure Prisoners’ Human Rights: Guarantee minimum healthcare, adequate food, and a safe environment.
- Strengthen Prison Security: Implement advanced body scanners and surveillance systems to prevent the entry of mobile phones and drugs.
- Arrest Fugitives Quickly: Law enforcement agencies must play an effective role, and strict measures must be taken against militant groups.
Prisons in Bangladesh should not just be places of punishment; they should be centers for rehabilitation and reintegration. However, corruption, insecurity, and administrative failures have turned prisons into breeding grounds for crime. Ensuring prisoners’ lives and human rights will be a hallmark of an advanced and democratic society.
If the Yunus government fails to address these issues and reform prison management with political motives, the overall law and order situation in the country will face catastrophic consequences. Immediate action is necessary; otherwise, this government will one day be forced to stand in the dock of history.
***The Writer is a Bangladeshi Human Rights Lawyer, Laureate of the French Government’s Marianne Initiative for Human Rights Defenders 2023, and Founding President of JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF). Website: www.jmbf.org, Email: shahanur.islam@jmbf.org
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JMBF is an independent non-profit, nonpartisan human rights organization registered in France with registration number W931027714 under the association law of 1901, dedicated to defending human rights, fighting for justice, and empowering communities in Bangladesh and beyond.
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