Jail Department to get a new name

The government is moving to rename its Jail Department as the ‘Custodial and Correction Service’ as part of a broader effort to modernise the country’s prison management system.

Inspector General of Prisons Brigadier General Syed Mohammad Motahar Hossain disclosed the plan at a press conference organised by the Department of Prisons on Tuesday ( August 18).

He said existing prison laws and regulations are being updated to reflect current needs and modern correctional practices, adding that a draft of the proposed ‘Custodial and Correction Service’ has already been prepared and submitted for approval.

The Inspector General also said 2,247 inmates escaped from five prisons during attacks, vandalism and unrest surrounding August 5, 2024. Narsingdi Jail recorded the highest number of escapes, with 826 inmates fleeing the facility.

According to the Department of Prisons, 660 of the escaped inmates have since been arrested, while 166 remain unidentified.

Manpower shortages continue to pose a major challenge to prison security, Motahar said. To address the problem, the government has approved around 1,899 new posts for the prison department.

Asked about allegations that jailed leaders and activists of the Awami League were receiving special privileges, the prison chief said no inmate was being given preferential treatment.

“If any such allegations are found to be true, no one will be given any concession,” he said.

The proposed name change is part of a wider effort to shift the prison system towards a more modern custodial and correctional model, officials said.