Life Imprisonment in Bangladesh: Ensuring a Constructive Prison Experience for Life-Sentenced Prisoners

Abstract

This chapter examines the regulatory landscape of life imprisonment in Bangladesh, the rights of life-sentenced prisoners as enshrined in law, in order to uncover legal strengths that could promote constructive prison experiences, as well as shortcomings that might necessitate legislative interventions. The authors found that Bangladesh’s prison system functions primarily as a punishment centre with inadequate amenities making prison life inhuman for life-sentenced prisoners. The dearth of opportunities for rehabilitation exacerbates the difficulties faced by life-sentenced prisoners both during and after their incarceration. This chapter concludes that life imprisonment should be for a set period, after which release should be routinely and effectively considered, providing life-sentenced prisoners with a genuine prospect of release, even if it is not given right away. Furthermore, life imprisonment should be constructive, allowing life-sentenced prisoners to live a healthy and dignified life whilst exercising all their inherent rights, including conjugal rights. Immediate essential amendments to existing legislation are required to ensure constructive prison experiences for life-sentenced prisoners. In the longer term, a multidisciplinary sentencing management system is recommended to be introduced by enacting comprehensive legislation, whilst adhering to international norms, to facilitate a constructive prison experience for life-sentenced prisoners in Bangladesh.