Dhaka, November 4, 2025 - The government has decided to release 37 prisoners who were sentenced to life imprisonment or more than 30 years in murder cases, having served at least 20 years with concessions.

An office order (no 143) in this regard was issued today.

It will come into effect within the next one to two days,according to the Department of Prisons.

Assistant Inspector General of Prisons (Development), Prisons Headquarters, Dhaka Md. Jannat-ul Farhad confirmed the development to BSS.

A high-level committee of the Home Ministry has finalized the list of prisoners.

The Department of Prisons confirmed that the list was prepared based on the recommendations from district prisons.

The decision to release these 37 prisoners was made by commuting their remaining sentences under Section 569 of the Jail Code, the sources said.

Section 569 of the Jail Code, Bangladesh (also referred to as Rule 569 of the Jail Code) is known as the "Twenty Years Rule". 

It provides a mechanism for the government to consider the early release of life-term prisoners who have completed at least 20 years of imprisonment, including remissions (reductions in sentence for good behavior). 

All of the prisoners have already served 20 years or more with concessions.

"The cases of those prisoners, who had been sentenced to 30 years or life, including those who have served over 20 years with concessions, have been judicially reviewed. Considering their age, behavior, and other factors, the government has decided to commute their remaining sentences," he said.

Some had remaining sentences of 10 years, some 7 years, and some 6 years-all of them have been commuted, he said.

Jannat-ul Farhad also noted that there are no female prisoners among the released group.

Most of the prisoners were convicted in murder cases and were serving sentences in various prisons across the country.