Inmates exceed size by 5-fold

Sirajganj district jail is currently grappling with a severe overcrowding issue, as it houses five times the number of inmates than its intended capacity. This overcrowding is primarily due to a surge in arrests across a range of cases, including routine anti-narcotics operations, acts of vandalism, dowry disputes, and land-related conflicts.

While the Sirajganj district jail is designed to accommodate up to 352 individuals, it currently holds a staggering 1,756 prisoners. This severe overcrowding issue is undeniably apparent. Nevertheless, the jail authorities assert that the inmates are not experiencing significant difficulties while incarcerated.

According to the information from the district jail sources, the sub-jail was initially established on the banks of the Jamuna River in Sirajganj back in 1918. Following the declaration of Sirajganj as a district in 1984, the sub-jail underwent a transformation, becoming a district jail in 1994. It officially commenced operations on November 17, 1994, on a 6.50-acre plot of land in the Kandapara area of the city.

The primary prison area covers four acres of the total 6.50-acre land. In this district jail, there are a total of seven buildings designated for inmate accommodation. Among these, two are three-story buildings, one two-story structure, and four single-story buildings, all of which serve as housing facilities for the prisoners.
With a vision to ensure safety and guide towards a brighter path, the facility, designed to house 352 individuals, now accommodates a staggering 1,756 convicts, which includes 332 male and 20 female prisoners, comprising both criminals and those awaiting trial.

Among the total inmate population, there are 62 female prisoners and 354 sentenced prisoners. Additionally, there are nine female prisoners among the 1,402 individuals who are yet to be sentenced. These prisoners have been incarcerated for a variety of reasons.

Talking to some of the prison staff and members, it has come to light that the designated wards for inmates are currently accommodating several times more prisoners than their intended capacity. During the day, inmates are allowed to move outside the wards, but they are required to return to their respective wards in the afternoon.

The overcrowding issue has reached a point where there is insufficient space for inmates to sleep comfortably within the wards. Inmates are essentially living in cramped conditions, and the situation becomes even more challenging during the hot summer months. While the issue may be somewhat manageable during the winter season, it becomes significantly more acute when the weather is warmer.
Mohammad Yunus Zaman, the district jail superintendent in Sirajganj, has acknowledged the current situation of overcrowding in the jail. He has highlighted that all the inmates in the jail have arrived there as a result of arrests made under various warrants or in connection with specific cases. The primary mission of the jail authorities is to ensure the well-being of these individuals, provide them with proper care, and endeavor to guide them towards a path of positive change.

Mohammad Yunus from the district also emphasized that despite the significant overcrowding, the prison has sufficient manpower to manage the current number of prisoners, and accommodating a few hundred more inmates would not pose a problem in terms of personnel.

Furthermore, he mentioned that the prison is able to provide regular meals to the prisoners, ensuring that there is no issue with food supply. However, he did acknowledge that the living conditions, specifically in terms of space and accommodation, may present challenges due to the high number of inmates.

Jail Superintendent ASM Kamrul Huda mentioned that while the prison's official capacity is designed for 352 people, the buildings constructed at that time can actually accommodate a much larger number of prisoners comfortably. He explained that the prison has typically held around 1,500 inmates most of the time, and this level of occupancy hasn't posed significant issues.

However, he did acknowledge that currently, the inmate population is slightly higher than usual, but even with this increased number, there are no significant problems. He added that the real challenges might arise if the number of prisoners were to exceed 2,000.

He also highlighted that due to the higher number of inmates, it's natural that the prisoners may not have the most comfortable living conditions. However, he assured that there are no issues with providing food to the inmates. He explained that the prison follows a well-established system for prisoner food allocation, which has been in place since the British era. The rules dictate that the quantity of food is multiplied to accommodate the number of prisoners, ensuring that every inmate receives the appropriate and equal amount of food according to government regulations. This practice ensures that there is no problem with food, even when the number of prisoners increases.