Bangladesh Prisons Increase Eid Meal Budget to Provide Beef and Traditional Desserts for Inmates

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Bangladesh’s prison authorities marked Eid al-Adha this year by providing a special feast for inmates, bolstered by an additional allocation of 225 taka per person beyond the standard daily food budget of 108 taka. These funds were utilized to purchase cattle and goats for traditional Qurbani, while menus were upgraded to include chicken roast, vermicelli pudding, and rice-based desserts.

According to prison officials, the holiday menu was standardized for all inmates, including high-profile political figures currently held in custody. On Eid morning, prisoners were served vermicelli, pudding, and puffed rice. The main lunch featured polao, beef, chicken roast, and salad, accompanied by sweets and betel leaf. For non-Muslim inmates, authorities substituted beef with mutton, and the evening meal consisted of white rice, potato curry, and fried Rui fish.

The administrative shift comes amid a surge in the high-security prison population following the July mass uprising. Official data indicates that 207 individuals—comprising former ministers, members of parliament, and senior government officials—are currently incarcerated. Of these, 179 have been granted division status, including 32 former cabinet members and 41 former lawmakers. Many of these detainees are spending their second consecutive Eid al-Adha behind bars.

Beyond the special meals, the prison department implemented temporary measures to ease the isolation of incarceration. Inmates were granted the opportunity to meet with visiting relatives once during the three-day holiday period, a significant departure from the standard schedule of one visit every 15 days. Visitors were permitted to bring home-cooked food, and authorities provided refreshments, including soft drinks and juice, to those waiting in the visiting areas, while children received snacks. Additionally, prisoners were granted a single five-minute phone call to family members at no cost.

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Assistant Inspector General of Prisons Jannat-ul-Farhad noted that Eid prayers were conducted within all prison facilities nationwide. At the Dhaka Central Jail, which currently houses over 10,000 inmates, prayers were led by a mosque imam from the prison staff. A separate congregation was held at the dedicated facility adjacent to the main prison for high-profile detainees, as confirmed by Senior Superintendent Faruk Ahmed.

The holiday atmosphere extended into recreation, with prisons organizing cultural programs and sports events. While cultural performances featuring talented inmates took place on Friday, friendly football and cricket matches between selected prisoners and staff are scheduled to conclude throughout the weekend.