Rajshahi Central Jail
Interactive map of Rajshahi Central Jail | |
| Location | 6000 Circuit House Rd, Rajshahi, Rajshahi District |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 24°21′59″N 88°35′04″E / 24.366424°N 88.584340°E |
| Status | Operational |
| Security class | Maximum |
| Capacity | 1460[2] |
| Population | ~3500[3] (as of 18 Nov 2023) |
| Opened | 1840 |
| Managed by | Bangladesh Jail |
| Warden | MD. Shah Alam[1] |
| State/province | Rajshahi Division |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| Website | prison |
Rajshahi Central Jail (Bengali: রাজশাহী কেন্দ্রীয় কারাগার) is a prison in Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh. It is located on the northern bank of the Padma River in Rajshahi District.[4]
History
Rajshahi Jail was established in 1840 by the British colonial administration.[4] In 1914, during the British colonial period, it was upgraded to a central jail.[5] 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.[6][7] Various left‑wing organizations in Bangladesh observe 24 April to commemorate the event.[6][7]
Infrastructure and capacity
Rajshahi Central Jail is situated on 54.9610 acres of land. It has an official capacity of 1,460 inmates,[4][8] although, on average, around 3,500 detainees and convicts are held there.[8] 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.[5]
Notable prisoners
- Abdul Haque - Bangladeshi communist politician and anti‑colonial activist
- Aminul Islam Badsha - Bangladeshi language movement activist and freedom fighter
- Anwar Hossain - Bengali revolutionary student leader
- Bhabani Prasad Bhattacharya - Bengali anti‑colonial revolutionary
- Ila Mitra - Bengali communist and peasant leader
- Kazi Abdus Shahid Lal - Bangladeshi left‑wing politician and freedom fighter
- Mohammad Toaha - Bangladeshi communist leader and freedom fighter
- Md Asaduzzaman Asad - Bangladeshi MP from Rajshahi‑3
- Mohsin Uddin Ahmed - Bangladeshi army officer
- Moni Singh - Bangladeshi communist leader and freedom fighter
- Mujibur Rahman (officer, born 1953) - Bangladeshi army officer
- Shahid Saber - Bengali journalist and political activist
See also
References
- ^ "কর্মকর্তাবৃন্দ" কর্মকর্তাবৃন্দ [Officials]. prison.rajshahi.gov.bd. Archived from the original on 27 Jan 2026. Retrieved 27 Jan 2026.
- ^ "রাজশাহী বিভাগের কারাগারগুলোতে ধারণক্ষমতার তিন গুণ বেশি বন্দি" রাজশাহী বিভাগের কারাগারগুলোতে ধারণক্ষমতার তিন গুণ বেশি বন্দি [The prisons in the Rajshahi division have three times more inmates than their capacity.]. The Daily Ittefaq. 18 Nov 2023. Archived from the original on 18 Nov 2023. Retrieved 26 Jan 2026.
- ^ "রাজশাহী বিভাগের কারাগারগুলোতে ধারণক্ষমতার তিন গুণ বেশি বন্দি" রাজশাহী বিভাগের কারাগারগুলোতে ধারণক্ষমতার তিন গুণ বেশি বন্দি [The prisons in the Rajshahi division have three times more inmates than their capacity.]. The Daily Ittefaq. 18 Nov 2023. Archived from the original on 18 Nov 2023. Retrieved 26 Jan 2026.
- ^ a b c "এক নজরে" এক নজরে [At a glance]. prison.rajshahi.gov.bd. Archived from the original on 27 Jan 2026. Retrieved 27 Jan 2026.
- ^ a b "রাজশাহী কেন্দ্রীয় কারাগার" [Rajshahi Central Jail]. rajshahirkotha.webrajshahi.com. Archived from the original on 29 Sep 2022. Retrieved 29 Sep 2022.
- ^ a b "Tributes paid to 'Khapra Ward' martyrs". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. 24 Apr 2023. Archived from the original on 30 Apr 2023.
- ^ a b "Tributes paid to Khapra Ward martyrs". New Age. 25 Apr 2024. Archived from the original on 27 Jan 2026. Retrieved 27 Jan 2026.
- ^ a b "রাজশাহী বিভাগের কারাগারগুলোতে ধারণক্ষমতার তিন গুণ বেশি বন্দি" রাজশাহী বিভাগের কারাগারগুলোতে ধারণক্ষমতার তিন গুণ বেশি বন্দি [The prisons in the Rajshahi division have three times more inmates than their capacity.]. The Daily Ittefaq. 18 Nov 2023. Archived from the original on 18 Nov 2023. Retrieved 26 Jan 2026.