Ahsanul Amin George, Khulna :
Around double prisoners than that of capacity are living in Khulna jail . Prisoners have been living at different cells enduring much difficulties, sources said .The jail authorities are trying to create balance, but the prisoners are in miserable conditions, sources added.
Like other parts of home and abroad, Corona Virus apprehension is also prevailing in the jail. For this reason , arrangements of special beds were already set with a view to prevent the fierce disease since March 10 , 2020 , said jail sources. Effective special measures were also taken in the mean time.
Some relatives of the prisoners said , we’re in great fear as only one Pharmacist is giving treatment to the prisoners and no specialist or consultant Physician is available in Khulna jail.
Md. Omar Faruk , Jail Superintendent of Khulna jail said, there is no reason for anxiety as we have taken all kinds of effective preventive measures . He said adding that physicians will be employed in Khulna Jail within short time.
Mentionable here that Khulna district jail was established in 1912 with the capacity of only 608 prisoners beside the river Bhairab. At present the numbers of the prisoners here are around 1800. Of course, after the completion of the New jail building’s work, this problem will be solved, according to jail sources. It is learnt from some released persons that manifold problems are prevailing in Khulna jail. Around triplex prisoners’ than its capacity are kept here who have been suffering different kinds of problems including living, eating and sleeping. They fall in several diseases. Prisoners are compelled to wait in a long queue for going to toilets and bathrooms. Medicare facilities of the prisoners are not giving properly, it is alleged.
Khulna Public Works Department (PWD) sources said, the prisoners are increasing everyday and as such in 2008, a project for building a new jail was taken. In 2011. The project was gotten approval by a meeting of ECNEC. After completing all the works including place shifting and land acquisition, the ultra modern jail of the southern part of the country were started at Hasankhali Mouja of Chakmothurabad in Dumuria upazila of Khulna district upon 56 acres of lands beside the By-pass road. Around Taka 251 crore will be spent for building the new jail which will be fit for living at least 2 thousand prisoners. Within the month of June, 2019, the new jail is supposed to be completed.
The new jail will be built as a reformatory center where 52 buildings will be built. There will be separate places here for pending cases’ accused and convicted accused persons. Besides, in this jail, a 10 bed hospital for female prisoners consisting with different facilities for mothers and children, motivation center and another 50 bed hospital for male prisoners will be established here. Apart from these, school, modern library, dinning room, laundry, children’s park, day care center, play ground and recreation managements will also be available in the new jail. Besides, Prayer room, recreation center and work-shed for the training of handicrafts for the male and female prisoners will also be available in the new jail of Khulna.
Jannatul Farhad, the former Superintendent of Khulna district jail had said in the last year that except 300 convicted, the rest prisoners here are in different pending cases. He said adding that two more new rooms capable of living 70 prisoners will be built in the jail within short time. Meanwhile, two new rooms were built which are capable of living 2 hundred prisoners, he added.
