Judges, lawyers, rights activists, and prison officials on Saturday called on the interim government to initiate the process of scrapping colonial-era laws and rules to modernise the jail system in Bangladesh.
Speaking at a workshop titled 鈥楯ail Reform: Reality and Feasibility鈥� on Saturday, experts emphasised the need to implement the recommendations of the Bangladesh Jail Reform Commission to revamp prison management.
The workshop, organised by the Law Reporters Forum and the Department of Prisons in collaboration with the law firm Law LAB, was held at the Department of Prisons Convention Centre in Dhaka.
Presided over by LRF acting president Hasan Zabed, the workshop was moderated by 抖阴精品 News Editor Shahiduzzaman and LRF member Zabed Akhter.
Housing and Public Works, and Industries Adviser, Adilur Rahman Khan, reflecting on his experience in jail twice during the fallen Awami League regime, noted that there was potential to modernise prison-related laws and rules through the judicial reform commission which was recently established by the interim government.
He encouraged stakeholders to seize the opportunity, highlighting the current environment of open dialogue and the situation which is free from fear and enforced disappearances, under the present government.
Adilur also urged the jail authorities to promptly resolve the issues that restricted lawyers鈥� access to visit detainees.
Justice Md Ruhul Quddus of the High Court Division emphasised the need to treat prisoners humanely.
He criticised a recent High Court ruling that permitted jail authorities to shackle certain groups of prisoners.
He said that this practice contradicted the spirit of the constitution, which prohibits inhumane treatment and torture of citizens.
Justice Quddus highlighted that every citizen, in the interest of learning and social improvement, should have the right to critique Supreme Court verdicts.
He further recommended establishing an elected council of prisoners every two years to address internal prison issues and prevent jailbreaks, which had historically occurred during periods of mass unrest.
Inspector general of prisons, Brigadier General Syed Md Motaher Hossain, acknowledged the challenges faced by the prison system, including corruption and staffing shortages.
Responding to allegations of corruption, Motaher admitted its presence but questioned how the prison could be run smoothly without some compromises.
鈥極ur challenge is managing the prison system under pressure from the ministry and politicians,鈥� he said, adding that influential prisoners often enjoy privileges during incarceration but they, after their release, criticise the system.
He highlighted the importance of enacting the reforms proposed in the 1980 Jail Reform Commission report, prepared by Justice FKMA Munim of the Appellate Division.
Former Deputy Inspector General of Prisons, Shamsul Haider Siddique, said that the present time was the ideal time for implementation of reform activities, as no political government had taken the challenge so far.
According to Shamsul, Justice Munim commission report suggests a 50 per cent reform of the jail system.
Shamsul also called for improved coordination between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of Prisons to ensure the successful implementation of the reforms. These include introducing sports, education, motivational programs, and recreational facilities within the prisons.
Senior lawyer Ruhul Quddus Kajal urged the interim government to establish a new commission to reform prisons and update the outdated laws, including the colonial-era Jail Code.
He also called for urgent measures to combat corruption within prisons, which perpetuates inequality among inmates.
Human rights lawyer Fawzia Karim emphasised the need for specific guidelines regarding women prisoners and their minor children.
She also suggested establishing clear rules on the duration of pretrial detention, and when prisoners should be eligible for bail.
In his keynote address, Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir presented a 17-point reform proposal aimed at modernising the jail management system.
The recommendations include implementing a draft Prisons Act and Prisoners Act, updating the Custodial Death and Torture (Prevention) Act, 2013, enforcing the Probation Ordinance of 1960, complying with the High Court鈥檚 directives to establish a prisoner database, improving the quality of food in prisons, introducing a parole system to meet the biological needs of prisoners, engaging prisoners in correctional activities.
Manir also opposed the practice of placing inmates in solitary confinement before their death sentences are confirmed by the Appellate Division or if they refuse presidential clemency.
Dhaka Division Deputy Inspector General of Prisons Jahangir Kabir, Law Ministry representative Joint District Judge Md Motiur Rahman, Dhaka Deputy Commissioner鈥檚 Office representative Additional District Magistrate Md Rafiul Alam, GIZ Bangladesh Cluster Coordinator Martina Burkard, Senior Adviser for Women鈥檚 Access to Justice Syed Ziaul Hasan, BLAST Assistant Director Rashedul Islam, and Law Reporters Forum general secretary Moneruzzaman Mission, among others, attended the workshop.