Bangladesh

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CountryBangladesh
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Home Affairs
Prison administration
Department of Prisons
Contact address
30/3 Umesh Dutta Road, Bakshi Bazar, Dhaka 12117
Telephone
+88 02 57300466
Website
http://www.prison.gov.bd
Email
info@prison.gov.bd
Head of prison administration (and title)
Md Mominur Rahman Mamun
Inspector General of Prisons
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
84 851
at 9.12.2023 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
50
based on an estimated national population of 170.09 million at December 2023 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
75.6%
(25.11.2022)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.9%
(September 2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.7%
(May 2012 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
0.6%
(March 2021)
Number of establishments / institutions
68
(2022 - 55 district prisons, 13 central prisons)
Official capacity of prison system
42 866
(9.12.2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
197.9%
(9.12.2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 62,669 47
2002 68,178 49
2004 73,154 51
2006 71,114 49
2008 86,838 59
2010 69,650 46
2012 68,700 44
2014 65,662 42
2016 73,177 45
2018 83,350 50
2020 88,084 52
2000 62,669 47
2002 68,178 49
2004 73,154 51
2006 71,114 49
2008 86,838 59
2010 69,650 46
2012 68,700 44
2014 65,662 42
2016 73,177 45
2018 83,350 50
2020 88,084 52

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Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the recent trend in the pre-trial/remand prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that pre-trial/remand prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the pre-trial/remand population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                                    BANGLADESH

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

1999
2003
2006
2010
2015
2019

44,368
45,173
48,354
50,576
52,876
71,717

74.6%
67.1%
67.1%
73.2%
73.8%
81.3%

34
32
33
33
33
43

2022

61,367

75.6%

35

It should be noted that the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners fluctuates from day to day, month to month and year to year. Consequently the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The pre-trial/remand population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities. 

Female prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the trend in the female prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of female prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that female prisoners constituted on that day. 

The final column shows the female prison population rate per 100,000 of the national population.

                                                  BANGLADESH

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2003
2006
2010
2016
2019

1,910
2,222
2,324
2,772
3,572

2.8%
3.4%
3.4%
3.8%
4.0%

1.4
1.5
1.5
1.7
2.1

2023

2,981

3.9%

1.7

The number of female prisoners fluctuates and so the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The female prison population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

(If the rate were calculated on the basis of the number of females in the national population it would of course be approximately double the figure in the final column).

Prison population total
Prison population rate