Administration of Criminal Justice in Bangladesh: A Doctrinal and Comparative Analysis”

Abstract

The criminal justice system of Bangladesh is founded on a robust constitutional and statutory framework, yet it faces significant challenges in procedural efficiency, institutional functioning, and rights protection. This monograph examines the doctrinal foundations of criminal law, analyzes the institutional architecture including police, prosecution, judiciary, and correctional institutions, and conducts a comparative study with selected jurisdictions: India, United Kingdom, United States, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates. Methodologically, the study employs a doctrinal and comparative approach, analyzing statutes, constitutional provisions, case law, and secondary sources such as scholarly articles, human rights reports, and institutional studies. The research identifies critical gaps in implementation, including politicization of law enforcement, lack of prosecution autonomy, judicial delays, prison overcrowding, and inadequate procedural safeguards. Comparative insights reveal effective models for prosecution independence, fast-track and specialized courts, digital case management, and rights based reforms. The study concludes that reforming Bangladesh’s criminal justice system requires legislative modernization, institutional restructuring, technological integration, and human rights compliance. Recommendations include establishing an autonomous prosecution agency, professionalizing police, enhancing judicial efficiency through case management and specialized courts, implementing rehabilitation-focused prison programs, and ensuring constitutional and procedural safeguards are effectively enforced. This monograph contributes to the literature by providing an integrated, research-heavy analysis and a reform-oriented roadmap, emphasizing both doctrinal and practical dimensions of criminal justice administration in Bangladesh.