Detention facilities in Bangladesh and Jamaica face healthcare crises

Inmates in Bangladesh and Jamaica are facing severe health crises within detention facilities. At Dhaka Central Jail, nine inmates died within a six-day period, highlighting an acute shortage of medical personnel. Reports indicate that out of 161 doctor positions across 75 prisons in Bangladesh, 159 remain vacant, leaving only two doctors to serve nearly 100,000 inmates. While prison authorities attribute the deaths to pre-existing conditions, human rights advocates have raised concerns regarding inadequate treatment and potential torture.

Similarly, in Jamaica, two men suspected of dying from tuberculosis were held at the Duhaney Park Police Station lock-up. The facility, which has a maximum capacity of 12 people, was reportedly holding 80 male detainees during the first week of September. Medical sources report that officers are frequently transporting seriously ill detainees to hospitals for conditions including suspected TB, scabies, and severe infections. Jamaica’s Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) is currently investigating nine deaths in police custody recorded so far in 2026.