Bangladesh

Asia
Total prison population:
78,894
Country
Bangladesh
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Home Affairs
Prison administration
Department of Prisons
Contact address

30/3 Umesh Dutta Road, Bakshi Bazar, Dhaka 12117
Bangladesh

Telephone
+880257300466
Website
https://www.prison.gov.bd
Email
info@prison.gov.bd
Head of prison administration
Md Mominur Rahman Mamun, Inspector General of Prisons

Prison population data

Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) 78,894
at 29.11.2025 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) 46
based on an estimated national population of 172.99 million at end of November 2025 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population) 73.1%
(29.11.2025)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population) 2.5%
(29.11.2025)
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 74
(2025)
Official capacity of prison system 43,157
(29.11.2025)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity) 182.8%
(29.11.2025)

Prison population trend

Year Prison population total Prison population rate
62,669 47
68,178 49
73,154 51
71,114 49
86,838 59
69,650 46
68,700 44
65,662 42
73,177 45
83,350 50
88,084 52
82,766 47

Prison population total

Prison population rate

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

2025

57,688

73.1%

33

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

2025

1,986

2.5%

1.1

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 trend up to 2000

The figures below give an indication of the prison population trend in the years up to 2000. They supplement the more recent figures that are shown at the foot of the Overview page and in the graphs below.

                                               BANGLADESH

Year

Prison
population
total

Prison population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

1975
1980
1993
1995
1998
2000

39,164
24,583
41,618
42,768
51,499
62,669

55
30
36
36
40
47

 

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