A Dhaka Tribune investigation reveals that Bangladesh’s prison system is at more than double its intended capacity, with authorities arresting over a thousand people daily while struggling to manage the surge. The crisis is compounded by inadequate medical care, a high proportion of pre‑trial detainees and a justice system that critics say is buckling under the pressure.

The Department of Prisons recently posted a documentary on its Facebook page showcasing well‑furnished facilities, quality food, gymnasiums and skills‑development programmes for inmates. Current and former prisoners, however, paint a starkly different picture. "There is no room anywhere, from the toilets to the sleeping areas. We have to live crammed together in congested conditions. It is almost as if one person’s nose touches another person’s nose," a former inmate told Dhaka Tribune. "The food is not particularly good either. There are cockroaches, mosquitoes and flies. The excessive number of people creates a terrible stench. We have to sleep packed tightly together on the floor."

Law enforcement agencies have been arresting more than 1,000 people daily through regular and special operations aimed at curbing crime. Weapons, ammunition, drugs and locally made firearms are also being recovered during these drives. In a Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) operation over the past 24 hours, 510 people were arrested and 48 cases filed in the capital. Despite the large number of arrests, however, crimes including murder, mugging, extortion, drug‑related offences and juvenile gang activities remain difficult to control, raising concerns about the country’s law‑and‑order situation.

According to DMP figures, 5,005 people were arrested on various allegations in the capital over 11 days, from October 1 to October 11. During the same period, 580 cases were filed for various offences, with the number of arrests averaging 455 a day. Police Headquarters data show that 53,518 people were arrested during special police operations between May 1 and August 26, 2026. Including approximately 150,000 arrests in other cases and operations, the total stood at 195,146, averaging around 1,650 arrests a day.

"Arrest is only a process of bringing a criminal under the law. Crime cannot be controlled through arrests alone. Prevention is another measure. If there is a risk of deterioration in the law and order situation somewhere, the police take preventive action," Additional Inspector General of Police Md Sayedur Rahman told Dhaka Tribune. "To reduce crime, social resistance must also be built alongside the efforts of law enforcement agencies. If someone repeatedly commits the same offence, they must be brought under exemplary punishment."

A study published in the United Kingdom finds that Bangladesh has the highest prison overcrowding rate relative to capacity among South Asian countries. For every 100 places available, there are 226 inmates. Sri Lanka is close to Bangladesh in terms of overcrowding, while India and Pakistan are in comparatively better positions. According to the World Prison Brief (WPB), Bangladesh’s prisons have an official capacity of 45,186 inmates. In September 2026 the prison population stood at 102,180, meaning the facilities were operating at 226.1% of their intended capacity. The latest Department of Prisons figures put the inmate count at 130,128 as of October 14, 2026.

"The 75 prisons in the country have a total capacity of 45,186 inmates. Currently, there are more than 100,000 prisoners. We struggle to manage the pressure caused by the excess number of inmates. Our workload increases, and we also have to perform additional duties," Additional Inspector General of Prisons Md Jahangir Kabir said. "If a family has five members and another five guests arrive, it creates pressure on that family. We are facing the same kind of pressure."

Among other South Asian countries, prison populations stand at 216% of capacity in Sri Lanka, 163% in Pakistan, 144% in Nepal, 113% in India and 112% in Myanmar. Globally, the Republic of the Congo has the highest prison occupancy rate, at 617% of capacity, while Nauru has the lowest, with its prisons holding inmates equivalent to just 14% of their intended capacity.

WPB data also show that 66.9% of inmates in Bangladesh’s prisons are pre‑trial detainees – roughly two‑thirds of those behind bars have yet to be sentenced. "As of October 14, the total number of inmates stood at 130,128. More than 75,000 of them are awaiting trial. The number of prisoners awaiting trial is increasing the pressure on prisons," Assistant Inspector General of Prisons (Development) Muhammad Enayet Ullah said.

Medical services remain inadequate. Fifty‑four prisons have no ambulances, while only two permanent doctors are available against 151 sanctioned positions. The longstanding medical crisis means inmates sometimes die on their way to hospitals when they require emergency treatment. Questions have also been raised about the quality of food served to prisoners, while complaints about prolonged delays in securing bail have persisted for years.

"When someone falls ill, a doctor is not available. There are also no ambulances to take them to hospital. I have seen people suffer strokes and die before my eyes, and there is nothing we can do," the former inmate recounted.

A 2024 study and WPB highlight mental‑health conditions in prisons across Southeast Asia as a serious and neglected concern. Overcrowding and a severe shortage of mental‑health services have contributed to the prevalence of mental disorders among prisoners, with estimates ranging from 40% to 100%. "There are no mental health specialists in prisons. If an inmate requires psychiatric treatment, we send them to the National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital. We provide medical services with assistance from district civil surgeons. We also face a shortage of ambulances," Mr Kabir said.

Crime analysts say arrests are only the first step towards controlling crime, arguing that proper investigations and swift justice are not being ensured. They also say criminals continue to flout the law because law enforcement agencies are failing to take sufficiently stringent measures to prevent crime. "Some accused people exploit legal loopholes and prolonged judicial proceedings to secure their release before becoming involved in crime again," crime expert Dr Md Tawohidul Haque of Dhaka University told Dhaka Tribune. "Arrests alone cannot control crime, stressing the need for impartial investigations and swift justice."

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Mohammed Saeed Ahmed Raza warned that the crisis is eroding human rights. "Recently, we have seen arrests in political cases, particularly arrests followed by shown arrests. More than 1,500 people are being arrested daily. However, prisons do not have enough space to accommodate them. This violates the human rights of accused persons, while the excessive pressure on inmates is making the judicial system completely fragile. The state must ensure that no one remains imprisoned without committing a crime," he said.

The prison system dates back to 1788, when a criminal ward was established in Dhaka. Prisons were subsequently built in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Jessore and Comilla in 1836. The Dhaka and Rajshahi prisons were declared central prisons in 1929. Today the country has 75 prisons, including 15 central prisons and 60 district prisons.

The combination of record‑breaking arrests, extreme overcrowding, inadequate medical and mental‑health care, and a justice system strained by a huge backlog of pre‑trial detainees poses a serious threat to both human rights and public safety in Bangladesh.

Why it matters

Severe prison overcrowding and a faltering justice system jeopardize human rights and public safety across Bangladesh.