Providing legal services

to prisoners
Prisons in Bangladesh were built to hold around
34,000 prisoners. However, there are around 72,000
people held in the country's prisons according to
the data collected in February 2015. This is more
than double the intended capacity. This overcrowding creates many problems, particularly in
regard to the prisoners' health, for example through
the spread of infectious diseases. Furthermore, 70%
of the inmates are waiting for their trial and have
not been convicted yet. The judicial process in
Bangladesh can be very slow and there is no
adequate coordination among the different institutions within the criminal justice system. As a result,
most prisoners endure imprisonment for an
unreasonably long period. This not only affects
them and their families emotionally and financially
but also the economy of the country as a whole.
To improve the situation, GIZ introduced first-hand
legal assistance: the Paralegal Advisory Service.
Paralegals fulfil a vital role for prisoners who are too
poor to afford their own legal representation.
Mostly unaware of the legal procedures, the
prisoners are guided through the justice system by
the paralegals. Addressing the issue of overcrowding in prisons in Bangladesh, the Munim
Commission Report 1980 on Jail Reform recommended to effect prison reform in future as there is
need for formulation and comprehensive policies
and principles. Such formulation should not merely
embrace the Prison Department but also the entire
criminal justice system which includes agencies for
prosecuting the criminal and courts. Therefore
Paralegal Advisory Service ensures the involvement
and coordination of all parties such as court, police,
district social service, district women affairs office,

lawyers, relevant ministries and NGOs in the

criminal justice system through Case Coordination
Committee meetings which take place monthly to
manage the respective cases. The established
network includes stakeholders at the local as well as
the national level. Paralegals also focus on accelerating the release of prisoners whose imprisonment is
excessive, particularly in the case of women and
children. Increasingly, the judiciary is becoming
proactive in accelerating court proceedings. By
developing capacities in prisons, qualitative statistics
can be produced, prisoners' risk potential estimated
and a minimum standard of prison conditions
maintained.

Key achievements of
the Paralegal Advisory Service
Between 2009 and 2014:
5,602 prisoners were released
59,172 interventions were made
In 2014:
18,877 people were assisted in court
2,591 people received support at police
stations

Way Forward
"I was only a teenager when my
poor parents pushed me towards
early marriage. Overburdened with
the responsibilities of the new life,
my mental health started to suffer.
I can't remember much from that
point onwards. One night, I ran
away from my home and ended up
at a police station. I was kept in
prison for 7 years in safe custody.
Though I was not accused of any
offence, I endured false imprisonment for such a long time as
there was no separate arrangement such as a 'safe home' for
safe custody inmates. I had gone
through treatment during my
imprisonment which enabled me to
remember the names of my
parents and my village. In 2014,
these paralegals helped me
reconnect with my parents. I am
really grateful to them. My
husband remarried, but at least I
am back to my parents. It was
only possible because of the
Paralegal Advisory Service."

Initially starting with 5 districts, Paralegal Advisory Service is currently

working in 20 districts in Bangladesh, aiming at working in 40 districts
by 2018. Support and acceptance of the project grows constantly as the
paralegals are seen as an information vehicle within the criminal justice
system. In many prisons, almost all of the inmates are legally represented and have their next court dates. Their knowledge on legal issues
has also increased. Many juveniles and women were reintegrated with
their families who were kept in prisons as safe custody inmates. The
families of prisoners are now receiving information about their relatives
in prison through the paralegals and solutions to local case backlogs are
being found through the Case Coordination Committees.
Are you interested in a partnership with GIZ to offer Paralegal Advisory
Services to prisoners in other districts in Bangladesh or in other South
Asian countries? If so, then please contact us.

A female prisoner
from Kishoreganj,
assisted by the paralegals,
released in December 2014.

Contact
Promita Sengupta,
Head of Programme, Rule of Law
Rule of Law Programme Improvement of the Real
Situation of Overcrowding in Prisons in Bangladesh (IRSOP)
German House
Ananda Bhaban
Road 83, House NEK 3/B, Gulshan 2
Dhaka-1212
T + 880 (0) 966 6701 000
F + 880 2 881 3769
E promita.sengupta@giz.de
I www.giz.de/bangladesh

Published by:
Deutsche Gesellschaft fr
Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

T
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I

+880 966670 1000

+880 02 8823 099
giz-bangladesh@giz.de
www.giz.de/bangladesh

Registered offices
Bonn and Eschborn
GIZ Office Dhaka
German House
Road 90, House 10/C
Gulshan 2, Dhaka1212
Bangladesh

Photo Credits:
GIZ Bangladesh
Dhaka, February 2015