Khulna: Construction of the newly built Khulna District Jail is still a few months away from full completion, but the prison authorities have already started taking charge of some finished structures. The six-storey building for inmates and the main entrance gate have been formally handed over while prison guards were deployed to maintain security. No outsider is allowed inside the jail from today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, officials stated that each building will be inspected this month, and unfinished works will be completed one by one before being taken over. Once the entire complex is officially handed over and manpower allocations are finalized, the transfer of prisoners will begin. The main construction was completed two months ago, but the authorities discovered several flaws during the handover process and have requested corrections.
Earthwork inside the compound remains incomplete, causing delays in the handover process. Initially, May 25 was the scheduled date for handover, but it has changed multiple times. The project, undertaken to replace the century-old and overcrowded existing jail, is expected to significantly improve living conditions for inmates and working conditions for staff through modern infrastructure and expanded capacity.
Khulna Jail officials, during their recent visit to the site, expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of work and called for faster completion. PWD Sub-Divisional Engineer Rashedul Islam mentioned that the construction could not be completed in time due to issues with the contractor. However, efforts are ongoing to finish the work within a couple of months.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the project in 2011 with an initial allocation of Taka 144 crore. The project was scheduled to complete in June 2016. However, following multiple deadline extensions and two budget revisions, the project cost now stands at Tk 288 crore. The existing Khulna jail, constructed in 1912, was originally designed to accommodate 678 inmates, but it currently accommodates more than 1,400.
The new prison is being constructed on about 30 acres of land near the Moyri project, beside the Khulna city (Rupsha Bridge) bypass road. The new jail complex resembles a modern residential area, featuring tiled walkways, landscaped gardens, and freshly painted buildings. The total number of structures in the complex is 52. According to the master plan, the jail will initially have facilities for 2,000 prisoners, eventually accommodating 4,000 inmates.
Talking to BSS, PWD Divisional Engineer Rashidul Islam stated that the new complex includes separate barracks for male, female, and convicted inmates, along with separate facilities for juveniles. It also houses a gallows, women’s daycare center, multiple work sheds, recreation centers, four kitchens, a men’s motivation center, a jail library, a school, and a hospital. The structures of the jail will also include staff quarters, an administrative building, a barber shop, and a laundry.
Inside the jail, every block is surrounded by boundary walls preventing contact between different categories of inmates. Nearly 5 kilometers of boundary walls, internal roads, drainage systems, a sewage treatment plant, rainwater harvesting facilities, two ponds, and solar power systems have already been completed. The new jail has been designed as a correctional facility, featuring a 50-bed hospital, classrooms, play areas, and cultural activities for children. It also will provide separate work sheds and prayer spaces for male and female inmates.
Executive Engineer of PWD in Khulna, Asaduzzaman told BSS that all major work is completed. Some defects have been detected during inspections and are being fixed immediately. Prison guards have already been deployed in a few buildings, and the handover process will begin this month. Jail Superintendent Nasir Uddin Pradhan said the new jail will employ a total of 600 staff, whereas around 200 are currently deployed at the old facility. Once operational, the jail will begin functioning in phases.
Member secretary of Khulna Civic Society Babul Howlader welcomed the government decision to build a new jail complex, stating it reflects a long-standing demand for a modern correctional institution that upholds both security and human dignity.