Overcrowding has put the authorities concerned under growing pressure in 12 jails across Chittagong Division, with the number of inmates reaching nearly three times their combined holding capacity.
According to prison authorities, the 12 jails have a combined capacity of 7,892 inmates, but currently house 19,966 prisoners. The overcrowding has made it increasingly difficult to keep inmates separated as per their legal status and the nature of their cases, as required under prison rules.
The facilities have space for 7,479 male and 413 female inmates. Against this capacity, there are currently 19,222 male and 744 female prisoners. The number of male inmates is therefore more than two and a half times the available capacity, while female inmates also exceed their designated capacity.
Across the 12 jails, 1,131 prisoners are serving life sentences, including 1,068 men and 63 women. Another 257 prisoners are on death row—240 men and 17 women. Meanwhile, 4,268 inmates are accused in drug-related cases.
Prison officials said inmates belonging to different categories and accused of different offences are required to be housed separately. However, the severe shortage of space has made it difficult to fully implement the provision. As a result, prisoners involved in different cases are often being accommodated in the same areas.
The situation is particularly acute at Chittagong Central Jail, which has a capacity of 2,249 inmates but currently houses 6,903 prisoners. Of them, 909 are accused in drug-related cases and 226 are death-row prisoners, including 16 women. The jail also has 517 life-sentenced prisoners—495 men and 22 women—and 76 foreign inmates.
Comilla Jail has a capacity of 1,742 but houses 3,180 prisoners. Cox's Bazar Jail, with a capacity of 830, accommodates 2,885 inmates, while Brahmanbaria Jail has 2,191 prisoners against a capacity of 780.
Other jails in Noakhali, Chandpur, Lakshmipur, Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari are also operating significantly above capacity. Feni-2 Jail has one of the largest disparities, with 464 inmates despite a capacity of only 72.
According to prison authorities, the Jail Code provides for 36 square feet of space for each inmate. However, the standard is not being maintained in most jails because of the overcrowding. In some cases, two or three prisoners are being accommodated in space intended for one person.
Advocate Akhtar Kabir Chowdhury, general secretary of Citizens for Good Governance (Sujan), Chittagong, said prisons should not merely be places of punishment but should also function as correctional institutions.
He said prisoners, including those awaiting trial, should be treated humanely and provided with the rights and facilities guaranteed under prison rules.
Mohammad Sagir Mia, deputy inspector general of prisons for Chittagong division, acknowledged the overcrowding. He said the 12 jails currently hold around 20,000 inmates, more than twice their combined capacity.
He added that the number of prisoners is particularly high in Chittagong and Cox's Bazar jails. A proposal has been submitted to construct another jail in Chittagong.
While saying there are no major problems in caring for inmates, the official acknowledged that the excessive number of prisoners is creating some difficulties for prison authorities.
