The process of transferring prisoners to the newly constructed Khulna District Jail is set to begin on Sunday.
Jailer Munir Hossain said that if any complications arise, the transfer might be delayed by a day or two.
In the first phase, he said, 100 inmates will be moved, with the remaining prisoners relocated in subsequent stages.
Although the new facility has started operations, the existing jail will continue to function.
In the long run, he said, the new jail will serve as Khulna’s central jail, while the current one in the Ghat area will operate as a metropolitan jail, the jailer said.
The government has already decided in principle to maintain two separate jails in Khulna, the jailer said.
Once the official gazette is published, each facility will function independently under its own superintendent, he said.
Until then, the existing officers will temporarily oversee both institutions.
Hossain assured that the new facility’s operation would not impose additional pressure on prisoners.
“Some minor construction work, including soil filling, is still ongoing and expected to be completed soon,” he added.
Currently, the Khulna prison accommodates more than 1,400 inmates. The transfer to the new facility is expected to ease overcrowding in the existing jail.