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October 30, 2000
The Daily Star
The jail in Narayanganj is an old building, a legacy of the British Raj. In 1998
it was upgraded to the status of District Jail, from a sub-jail. It has a
capacity to hold 369 prisoners. However, during the time of the investigation,
the jail was hosting 762 inmates. The cell capacity in the women's wing was
eight prisoners. However, there were 23 women in the cell.
On 7th August, Odhikar investigators visited Narayanganj jail in order to
inquire into the state women prisoners. Unfortunately, the jail Superintendent
was unable to give permission to enter the prison and was also reluctant to
relate to the investigators the condition of the women prisoners. As a result,
Odhikar interviewed two women who had been freed on bail Momena Khatun and
Rokeya.
Momena Khatun was arrested under the Drugs Act and was recently freed on
bail. She told the investigators that the situation of women in the jail was
grim. They were all crowded in one cell and it was difficult to sleep at night.
As a result, women took turns to sleep. The food was sub-standard and
insufficient in quantity. Breakfast consisted of a stale chapatti with gritty
molasses. The amount of rice that was given was quite sufficient, but not sorted
or washed properly. A very small amount of vegetable was served with it. A piece
of chapati made up dinner. Momena believes that the vegetable that was served
were leftovers from the bazaar restaurants. And the chapatis they used to serve
was stale.
Rokeya Begum was also arrested under the Drugs Act. She told Odhikar
investigators that the women's section in the jail consisted of a very small
section. The cell had no ventilation and during the summer evenings it was
suffocating. She said that the food was insubstantial and inedible and many
prisoners received meals from relatives and family after paying a sum to the
warders. She also informed the investigators that jail authorities 'charged'
taka ten or twenty from male prisoners to have visitors, but demanded taka
hundred from female inmates when they asked to have visitors.
Not only is the prevalent Jail Code not adhered to, this law is also in dire
need of amendments and 'upgrading'. There are specific provisions for female
inmates the presence of female warders, special care for women with children and
catering to specific needs of women. Odhikar has investigated the condition of
women in several jails and vagrant homes all mirror the same pitiful condition
of women incarcerated there. There is a serious need for improving the condition
of prisoners in all Bangladesh's prisons, in all respects and to resolve the
cases of under trial prisoners speedily to prevent overcrowding and aggravate
unhygienic conditions. Furthermore, women who are in jails as 'safe custody'
victims must be removed to the shelter homes, as per Government order
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