Author – Saima Aktar
In Bangladesh’s overcrowded prison system, female prisoners are a small part of the total number of incarcerated people. This statistical reality shows a critical human rights crisis. The experience of women in Bangladesh’s prisons represents a clear case of double punishment. First, the criminal justice system often does not recognize the specific challenges and risks faced by women inmates. Second, those women find themselves in correctional conditions where they experience severe neglect, dangerous situations, and a lack of dignity. Their situation reveals serious issues in the country’s justice and corrections system.
The prison situation in Bangladesh is critical mainly because of the congestion reaching alarming levels. The country has 68 prisons that are meant to hold around 42,887 inmates, but as of late 2023 and early 2024, there are between 77,000 and 88,000 individuals. According to the World Prison Brief (2025) report, the number of incarcerated people is 77,291, and the prison population rate is 45. [2] This means they’re operating at 180% to over 200% capacity, which is beyond acceptable limits. [1] Women make up a small but significant portion of this population, representing between 3.2% and 4.0%, which equates to approximately 2,500 to 3,572 individuals at any given time. Where the official capacities for female prisoners are only 1,929, this number far exceeds. [1]
The issue of female inmates in Bangladesh has been historically overlooked by researchers and policymakers.[5] The small percentage of women within the prison population worsens their situation, as their needs are ignored in a system designed for male prisoners. In Bangladesh’s prison system, their minority status justifies the lack of gender-specific facilities, which creates a cycle that worsens their conditions. Also, the absence of basic provisions, such as playgrounds for children of incarcerated mothers or adequate sanitary supplies, highlights their unique vulnerabilities. [1]
The following table provides a statistical portrait of the crisis, quantifying the scale of overcrowding and pre-trial detention and situating the female prison population within that dire context.
Table 1: Bangladesh Prison System – A Statistical Overview
| Metric | Male | Female | Total |
| Official Capacity | ~41,071 | 1,929 1 | 43,000 25 |
| Actual Population (Latest) | ~75,201 | 2,800 (Sep 2025) 25 | 78,001 (Sep 2025) 25 |
| Number of Under-Trial Detainees | Not specified | Not specified | 59,000 (Sep 2025) |
Note: Population figures fluctuate. The data presented reflects the most recent available statistics from the provided sources to illustrate the scale of the issue.
Section 1: The Lived Reality – Conditions inside the Walls
While national overcrowding statistics are alarming, the situation in facilities designated for women is even more acute. The Kashimpur Women’s Central Jail is the only dedicated central prison for women in the country. Its official capacity is 200, but it held 634 prisoners in August 2023, resulting in an occupancy rate of 317%. [1] Similarly, Dhaka’s central jail has been reported to hold 540 women in a space designed for only 134. [7] This extreme density renders the legal standards of the Jail Code meaningless. According to the Code, each inmate is entitled to 36 square feet of personal space (6 feet by 6 feet). However, it is impossible to provide this necessary space under the current conditions. [1] Inmates often sleep in shifts, with many unable to lie down due to congestion in cells. [8]
The overcrowding issue is worsened by the dilapidated state of the prison infrastructure itself. Many of the country’s main prisons built during the British period are now in significant disrepair. [8] For example, Rajshahi Central Jail was constructed in 1840 and remains in a dilapidated condition. These old buildings have poor ventilation and sanitation. This leads to risks of collapse and other issues, which make them hazardous to live in. [8]
Health, Hygiene, and Nutrition: A Neglect of Basic Dignity
Bangladesh’s prison healthcare system is severely under-resourced. Only six physicians are available for over 80,000 inmates across 68 prisons. [1] Chronic diseases like tuberculosis, diabetes, and kidney complications often remain untreated, which causes unnecessary suffering and preventable deaths. [1] Women face additional challenges, including a lack of sanitary towels, a direct violation of the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners (the Bangkok Rules). [24] Pregnant inmates face a particularly high risk of complications because they do not receive the benefits of medical checkups or nutritious food. Reports indicate that the food provided is often substandard and insufficient. Also, there are allegations of staff stealing supplies and discrimination in favor of those who can afford bribes for better provisions. [8]
Prisons in Bangladesh are filled with fear and violence. Human rights organizations report many cases of torture and harsh treatment. This abuse is done by both government officials and fellow inmates like powerful, politically connected prisoners, and even by jail guards. [1] The harrowing testimony of Shireen Akhtar, a political activist who was imprisoned some 30 years ago, provides a historical baseline for this culture of violence. She described how she was tortured after her arrest, including being subjected to electric shocks and whipping. [4]
The consistent report of torture, pressure, and custodial deaths shows that at least 94 people died in jail custody between January and September 2023 from suspected torture, illness, and negligence.[1] This transforms the prison from a place of state-sanctioned punishment into a place of extra-legal violence and exploitation, where the most vulnerable inmates, particularly poor women, are often targeted.
Comparative analysis
Let’s see a detailed comparative analysis table that evaluates the legal conditions of prisons in Bangladesh.
Table 2: Legal Rights vs. Prison Reality: A Comparison with the Bangkok Rules
| Area of Concern | Bangladesh Law/Practice | UN Bangkok Rules Standard |
| Health & Hygiene | Lack of sanitary towels; deplorable sanitary facilities 7 | Sanitary towels should be provided free for women who need them 7 |
| Contact with Children | Children live in general wards in district jails; no special facilities.1 | Family visits should be encouraged and made a positive experience, particularly for children 7 |
| Safety from Violence | Allegations of torture by influential prisoners and jail guards.1 | Women prisoners shall be protected from all forms of violence or exploitation.6 |
| Non-Custodial Measures | The judiciary rarely applies non-custodial measures for women, even for minor offenses. Mitigating factors, such as being a primary caregiver or a victim of abuse, are often not given adequate consideration during sentencing | Prefer non-custodial sentences for pregnant women and mothers with dependent children, unless the crime is serious or they pose a danger. Always consider the child’s best interests and ensure proper care is arranged. 24 |
| Pre- & Post-Release Support | Limited rehabilitation and reintegration programs for women7 | Gender-specific social reintegration requirements of female prisoners must be taken into account.24 |
Prisons Worldwide: Different Problems, Universal Pain
While Bangladesh’s prisons face severe congestion and basic sanitation failures, its neighbors demonstrate different institutional capacities. India faces some chronic issues, yet it has established formal monitoring bodies, such as the National Commission for Women (NCW).[20] In contrast, Pakistan, along with these problems, struggles to provide mental health support for female prisoners.[21] However, there is notable involvement from NGOs and international organizations, including the United Nations. [21] This parallels the situation in the United Kingdom, where the major challenge is not survival but a serious mental health crisis. This crisis is marked why there is an alarming rate of self-harm and the severe psychological effects deriving from extreme isolation, including 22-hour daily lockdowns. [23] The comparison shows erratic levels of state failure, where Bangladesh fails in its basic responsibilities, and the UK fails short in providing psychological care and basic decency[22]
Despite these vastly different challenges, the pain of a mother’s separation from her child is a universal aspect of female incarceration[10] This trauma causes a unique and profound harm to women and their families everywhere. It strengthens the argument that non-custodial sentences for mothers should be the global standard.
Disciplinary Lens
It is important to have anthropological insight into gender-sensitive matters in prisons. Looking at this issue from an anthropological perspective discloses that the female carceral system in Bangladesh is more than just a legal apparatus for addressing crime. It acts as a powerful cultural institution that strengthens patriarchal norms. This insight encourages us to explore the deeper societal structure and mindset. The concept of “spatial precarity” theory explains what risks women face as they move through different social and physical environments. This analysis exposes that often when women are incarcerated, it’s more about controlling their vulnerability in these spaces rather than a specific crime they committed. [13] In other words, their difficult circumstances can lead to legal troubles. When women are found lost, abandoned, or outside their family’s protection, their situation is seen as a social misbehavior requiring state intervention. In this context, the prison becomes a mechanism for managing female bodies that society sees as unacceptable or abnormal, thereby criminalizing their vulnerability itself.
The anthropological perspective views the stigma as a kind of “social death” experienced by female ex-convicts. This stigma is not merely a practical implication of having a criminal record, but it represents a culturally specific ritual of exclusion of the perception of these women. They are redefined as “fallen” moral beings because society thinks of their crimes as violations of the community’s honor. Likely, her punishment goes beyond the legal sentence; it serves as a public commendation of patriarchal views on a woman’s role and character. The anthropological observation powerfully reveals that the prison system plays a critical role in a cultural process that transforms individuals into permanent punishment who have faced social failure. Thereby, it establishes the patriarchal structures that contributed to their initial vulnerability.
Concluding Remarks
To reform the carceral system, Bangladesh must prioritize three core actions. First, the country should update its laws that date back to colonial times. This means enacting a modern National Corrections Act that legally incorporates international standards, such as the Bangkok Rules, and makes non-custodial sentences as default for non-violent female offenders. Second, to effectively tackle the challenges within our legal system, we need to focus on reducing overcrowding in prisons. This can be accomplished by establishing clear time limits for how long individuals can be detained before their trial. Besides, it must be ensured that everyone has immediate access to legal assistance, and bail practices are reformed to make it possible for individuals to secure their release. Finally, it is essential to adopt a more responsive and gender-sensitive approach to managing prisons, particularly with women’s needs. This involves upgrading prison facilities, providing training for staff on human rights and healthcare, and offering meaningful vocational training programs that equip women with skills and pathways to gainful employment after their release.
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