Prisons Department strengthens security thru seven-point action plan

The Department of Prisons has introduced a seven-point action plan to bolster security, promote discipline, strengthen accountability and improve staff management across prisons nationwide in Bangladesh.

The measures include strict control over after-lockup activities, round-the-clock CCTV surveillance, action against unauthorized absence from duty posts, accountability of supervisory officers, retraining of negligent staff, special security precautions during adverse weather and regular supervision through surprise inspections.
 
The initiative comes amid concerns that negligence in duty, indiscipline and failure to properly follow existing rules and regulations at some prisons could create security risks and undermine the overall management of correctional facilities.

Speaking to BSS on Tuesday, Additional Director General of Prisons Colonel Mesbahul Alam Salim said the department had already strengthened its monitoring mechanism to ensure effective implementation of the directives.

As part of the initiative, a daily operational routine has been introduced for every prison across the country, with all jails required to submit feedback regularly to the prison authorities.
 
The Operational Branch of the department has been assigned to monitor compliance with the instructions, he said.

The department has also taken initiatives to recruit additional manpower, including deputy jailors, who will be assigned to monitor prisons across the country.

Salim said the department had achieved at least 90 percent compliance with the directives, expressing hope that the benefits of the measures would become visible within the next three to four months.

He said the authorities have ordered the inter-jail transfer of prison personnel found guilty of negligence in performing their duties.

According to the guidelines, after-lockup arrangements must be strictly regulated and discouraged except in essential cases approved by the competent authority.

Any exceptional arrangement must have written approval from the jailer, a specified time limit and mandatory documentation in the relevant register.

The directive also makes 24-hour CCTV monitoring mandatory in every prison. Separate monitoring rooms are to be established wherever possible, with trained and IT-skilled prison guards assigned to maintain round-the-clock surveillance. Where dedicated rooms are unavailable, monitors must be installed at suitable locations to ensure uninterrupted observation.
 
To prevent security lapses, the department has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to unauthorized absence from duty posts. Any guard or other guarding personnel found leaving an assigned post without permission must be reported immediately in writing, followed by departmental action under existing rules.

Supervisory officers will also be held accountable for concealing incidents of negligence or unauthorized absence, delaying or avoiding reports, or failing to take appropriate action against those responsible.

The guidelines further provide for retraining, counselling and motivational measures for guarding staff repeatedly reported for negligence. Depending on the circumstances, such personnel may also be transferred in the administrative interest or face departmental proceedings in accordance with existing regulations.

Special security precautions have been prescribed for adverse weather conditions, including rain and thunderstorms. Guarding personnel must remain at their designated posts and maintain heightened vigilance while performing their duties.

The department has also instructed prison superintendents, jailers and other responsible officers to conduct regular supervision and surprise inspections. They will examine security posts, CCTV monitoring systems, guard duties and the overall effectiveness of security arrangements, taking necessary steps to address any shortcomings.

The seven-point directive, issued in August, warned that any untoward incident inside a prison could damage the image of the entire prison administration and provoke adverse public reaction.

The department has instructed all concerned officials to implement the measures immediately, with the objective of preventing security lapses, maintaining institutional discipline and ensuring greater accountability at every level of prison administration.