First cashless prison system introduced

Bangladesh has introduced its first cashless prison management system at Munshiganj District Jail as part of efforts to modernise prison administration, officials said.

The system is based on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, a wireless system that uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects, animals or individuals.

It is considered a digital, non-line-of-sight alternative to traditional barcodes, enabling remote scanning and real-time data monitoring.

Under the new system, prison authorities can track the movement and location of inmates within the jail, conduct accurate headcounts in prison wards, and manage financial transactions without the use of cash.

Family members are able to deposit money directly into inmates’ virtual accounts. Prisoners can then use RFID-enabled services to purchase goods from the jail canteen, eliminating the need for physical cash transactions inside the facility.

Officials said the initiative has improved operational efficiency and strengthened security by enabling real-time monitoring of inmate movement while creating a fully cashless environment within the prison system.

Assistant Inspector General (Media) of the Prison Directorate, Md Jannat-Ul Farhad, said the RFID-based system has initially been launched as a pilot project at Munshiganj District Jail.

He added that the government plans to gradually extend the system to all prisons across the country following evaluation of the pilot phase.