Inspector General of Prisons Brigadier General Syed M Motaher Hossain told a press briefing at the prison headquarters at Bakshibazar in Dhaka. Photo : BSS

DHAKA, Aug 26, 2025 (BSS) – The interim government has decided to dub ‘prisons’ as ‘correction centres’ renaming ‘Department of Prisons’ as ‘Correction Services Bangladesh’, the top jail official said here today.

“An initiative has been taken to rename Bangladesh Jail (Department of Prisons) as Correction Services Bangladesh,” Inspector General of Prisons Brigadier General Syed M Motaher Hossain told a press briefing at the prison headquarters at Bakshibazar.

He said the renaming was part of reforms in the existing prison system while a draft of the proposed Correction Service Act-2025 was finalised and forwarded for the government approval.

The prison system chief said the proposed law suggested different provisions to modernise the rules and regulations related to the prison department.

Hossain said two new central and four district prisons were opened recently as the existing jail facilities exceeded their capacity to accommodate inmates while jail officials prepared a comprehensive database of prisoners.

The prison chief said inmates’ management required authorities to divide Dhaka division into two divisions recently.

The prison chief steps were taken to intensify the prison security arrangements as well that included installation AI-based CCTV cameras and introduction of body-worn cameras or body-cams “to make sure foolproof security in and around jails across the country”.

Besides, Hossain said, various other modern equipment including comprehensive mobile jamming system, body scanner, luggage scanner, ground sweeping machine and mobile detector were now being used in prisons.

The IG Prisons said the jail authorities were pursuing a ‘zero tolerance policy’ regarding drug abuse inside the correction centres while in the past one year 29 prison employees too were imprisoned to prison in criminal cases for their involvement in drugs abuses.

Hossain said the jail authorities purchased as well drug detection machines to enhance anti-drug surveillance inside jails.

He said the jail authorities devised a method to ensure corruption-free recruitment in the prison system, which other public entities could follow “as a model”.

Hossain said works were underway to ensure uninterrupted power supply in prisons by installing solar power panels while initiatives were taken as well to create 'correctional industrial parks' at convenient locations to keep inmates productive.

The issue of prisoners' telephone calls and visits has been brought under digitalization, he said, adding that prisoners can participate in the trial process through online virtual courts staying in prisons.

Hossain said a hotline service – 16191 -- has been launched for service recipients to get specific information about prisoners.

He said a process was underway to develop a build a central prison hospital at in Keraniganj where jail official and employees could receive medical services alongside the inmates.