Serious allegations of inhuman detention conditions have emerged from Dhaka Central Jail, Keraniganj, where nearly 2,000 detainees are reportedly being held in continuous lockup without regular access to food and drinking water, raising fresh concerns over human rights under Bangladesh’s interim government.
The allegations were made in a letter sent from prison on Wednesday, January 7, by Bangladesh Chhatra League Central Publicity Secretary Mohammad Tarikul Islam Tarek, who is currently detained as an under-trial prisoner at the facility.
In the letter, written on behalf of detainees housed in the Shapla, Banafool, and Surjomukhi buildings of the prison complex, Tarek accused jail authorities of violating established prison laws by imposing an indefinite “24-hour lockup” regime since the beginning of 2026.
“Approximately 1,800 to 2,000 detainees in the Shapla, Banafool, and Surjomukhi buildings are being kept in 24-hour lockup and subjected to various forms of inhuman and degrading treatment,” Tarek wrote from Banafool Cell 3/1, identifying himself as Prisoner No. 61047/25. “This practice is completely outside the scope of prison law.”
Claims of food and water deprivation
Beyond confinement, the letter alleges systematic denial of basic necessities. According to Tarek, detainees are being deprived of regular meals, drinking water, and other essential food items — conditions that rights advocates say amount to serious violations of both domestic law and international human rights standards.
“The prison authorities are inflicting inhuman treatment by routinely denying food, water, and basic sustenance to nearly 2,000 detainees,” the letter states, describing the situation as one of collective punishment rather than lawful incarceration.
Legal experts note that Bangladesh’s prison regulations require detainees to be provided with adequate food, water, medical care, and limited freedom of movement, even under heightened security measures. Continuous lockup without clear legal justification, they argue, risks crossing the threshold into cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
Appeal for international attention
In an emotional appeal at the end of the letter, Tarek described the situation as “brutal oppression” and called for urgent intervention from both domestic and international human rights organizations.
“I earnestly appeal to you all to bring this message to the attention of human rights organizations in Bangladesh and internationally,” he wrote. “Necessary steps must be taken to protect nearly 2,000 detainees like me from this merciless abuse.”
The allegations come in the aftermath of the dramatic political changes of 2024, which saw the removal of the elected government and the subsequent banning of the Bangladesh Chhatra League. Since then, numerous leaders and activists associated with the organization have been arrested, with many currently held as under-trial prisoners. Tarek is among those detained following the ban.
Silence from authorities, growing concern
As of Thursday, no official response has been issued by prison authorities regarding the allegations. However, human rights observers say the reported practices — if verified — would constitute serious violations of detainees’ rights and raise broader questions about accountability under the interim administration.
Rights advocates argue that prolonged lockups and deprivation of basic necessities not only undermine the rule of law but also reflect a troubling erosion of institutional safeguards at a time when Bangladesh is already facing political uncertainty and international scrutiny.
With no independent inspection report yet made public and authorities remaining silent, the situation at Keraniganj jail is emerging as a potential flashpoint in the broader debate over governance, justice, and human rights during the country’s transitional period.
