By S M Zahid Hossain

KHULNA, June 20, 2025 (BSS) - The newly built district jail here is likely to start operation in July, as about 95 percent of the construction work is complete, according to officials.

The Khulna Public Works Division (PWD) is ready to hand over the facility to the jail authorities.

Additional Inspector General of Prisons Golam Mostafa visited the site today along with senior officials and instructed workers to complete the remaining tasks as soon as possible.

PWD Sub-Divisional Engineer Rashedul Islam said they plan to hand over the jail by the end of this month. The handover was initially scheduled for May 25 but got delayed due to incomplete construction.

Khulna Jail Superintendent Nasir Uddin Pradhan said, "We hope to take over the facility by the last week of June. Once we complete staffing, we will begin transferring inmates to the new jail."

The project began in 2011 after approval by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC). Initially, it had a budget of Tk 144 crore and a completion target of June 2016. Over time, the deadline was extended eight times, and the cost rose to Tk 288 crore after two revisions. Rashedul Islam said the repeated delays caused frustration, but the project is now nearly finished.

The old Khulna jail, built in 1912 on the banks of the Bhairab River, was designed for 678 inmates but now houses more than 1,400. The buildings are old and unsafe, prompting the need for a new facility.

The new jail is located along the Khulna City Bypass (Rupsha Bridge Road) and spans 30 acres. It is designed to hold 4,000 inmates, but current infrastructure can accommodate 2,000. Additional buildings can be added later under separate projects.

During a visit, this correspondent saw that the complex looks more like a residential area, with freshly painted buildings, tiled walkways, and landscaped gardens.

The facility includes separate units for under-trial and convicted prisoners, special barracks for juveniles, and a women's section with a hospital, motivation center, and work sheds. It also has a 50-bed general hospital, a school for prison staff's children, a library, dining areas, a salon, and laundry services.

For female inmates with children, there's a dedicated ward and day-care center offering education and recreational activities. Male and female inmates will also have access to separate work sheds, prayer spaces, and cultural activity zones. In total, the complex includes 52 buildings.

PWD Executive Engineer Md. Asaduzzaman said the major construction is done, and only finishing touches like final painting remain. He added that the internal boundary walls stretch nearly 5 kilometers and include systems for drainage, solar power, rainwater harvesting, and sewage treatment.

Superintendent Nasir Uddin Pradhan confirmed that they requested 600 staff for the new facility, while about 200 are currently working at the old jail. Once the handover is complete, the prison will gradually become fully operational.

Sheikh Ashrafuzzaman, President of the Greater Khulna Development Action Coordination Committee (GKDACC), welcomed the new jail.

"The old jail is overcrowded and has no modern facilities. We've long demanded a proper prison with civic and human rights protections. The people of Khulna are happy to hear that the new jail is finally ready."