Bangladesh: Expanding non-custodial alternatives to reduce prison overcrowding

Dhaka, Bangladesh/28 February 2025: Prisons worldwide are overcrowded, with many individuals spending years in detention before their cases are even heard. This overburdened system not only affects those incarcerated but also slows down justice for all. Non-custodial measures (NCM) offer a smarter solution—ensuring accountability while allowing individuals to remain within their communities under structured supervision. In Bangladesh, embracing these alternatives could ease prison congestion and create a fairer justice system.

“NCM protect human rights and dignity,” senior judicial magistrate Mr. Mahfuzur Rahman emphasised in discussions with 30 criminal justice actors—judges, prison officials, police officers, and legal professionals—at a specialised training in Dhaka.

Organized by UNODC and the Judicial Administration Training Institute (JATI)--with support of the British High Commission, Bangladesh and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO)--the two-day training equipped the participating justice actors with the tools to address prison overcrowding while promoting a fairer, rehabilitative approach to justice in Bangladesh.

Discussions emphasized practical methods and legal frameworks to reduce prison overcrowding, ensure better rehabilitation and give offenders a chance to reintegrate into society. The training helped participants understand how to use these alternatives effectively, was a crucial step in shifting the way justice is delivered.

Participants stressed the urgent need for continued training to sustain reforms and ensure lasting impact. They underscored that prison overcrowding weakens both justice and rehabilitation, making non-custodial measures essential for a fairer system. Strengthening the capacity of justice actors and expanding public awareness on alternatives to imprisonment were identified as critical steps to drive meaningful change.

“This programme has opened a new window to rethink punitive justice,” said Mr. Mohammad Majharul Islam, a senior Judicial Magistrate in Dhaka. Participants also highlighted that a fairer society demands alternatives to imprisonment. “Social awareness on NCM needs to be expanded.”

With a clearer understanding of how to apply these alternatives, participants are now better prepared to make decisions that balance justice with rehabilitation.

This activity contributed to SDG 16 and SDG 17: https://sdg-tracker.org/

(Supported by the British High Commission, Bangladesh and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)