Rajshahi Central Jail


Rajshahi Central Jail is a prison in Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh. It is located on the northern bank of the Padma River in Rajshahi District.
WWW prison.rajshahi.gov.bd

History

Rajshahi Jail was established in 1840 by the British colonial administration. In 1914, during the British colonial period, it was upgraded to a central jail. On 24 April 1950, the district police opened fire in the Khapra Ward of the jail after prisoners launched a hunger strike and protest against poor-quality food and mistreatment. Several active members of the Communist Party were killed in the incident, which is widely known as the Khapra Ward Massacre. Various left‑wing organizations in Bangladesh observe 24 April to commemorate the event.

Infrastructure and capacity

Rajshahi Central Jail is situated on 54.9610 acres of land. It has an official capacity of 1,460 inmates, although, on average, around 3,500 detainees and convicts are held there.
The facility includes a hospital, a mosque, and a prison training academy. In addition, there are multiple cell blocks for inmates and separate buildings for prison guards and administrative officers.

Notable prisoners