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{{Short description|Former jail in Bangladesh}}
{{For|the operational prison|Dhaka Central Jail, Keraniganj}}
{{Infobox Prison
| prison_name = Old Dhaka Central Jail
| former_name = Dhaka Central Jail
| image = Dhaka central jail 5.jpg
| caption = Main gate of Dhaka Central Jail, Old Dhaka, Bangladesh
| location = Nazimuddin Road, [[Chawkbazar Thana|Chawkbazar]], [[Old Dhaka]]
| city=[[Dhaka]]
| country=[[Bangladesh]]
| coordinates ={{Coord|23.7186|N|90.3981|E|display=title,inline}}
| status = Unknown
| classification = Maximum
| capacity = 2,500
| opened = {{start date and age|1778}}
| closed = {{end date and age|2016}}
| managed_by = [[Bangladesh Jail]]
}}
'''Dhaka Central Jail''' was the largest [[jail]] in [[Bangladesh]], located in the old section of [[Dhaka]], the country's capital. The jail has been used to house criminals as well as [[political prisoner]]s, especially during the [[Bengali language movement|Language Movement]] of 1952, the [[6 Point Movement]], and the [[Bangladesh War of Independence]].

However, the jail earned infamy after the killings of four political leaders — [[A. H. M. Qamaruzzaman]], [[Tajuddin Ahmad]], [[Syed Nazrul Islam]] and Captain [[Muhammad Mansur Ali]] — on the eve of a military counter-coup on 3 November 1975, against the government of president [[Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad]] and army chief [[Ziaur Rahman]], which was in power after 15 August after the [[assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]]. The slain leaders are mourned by many in Bangladesh today, with the date informally known as "[[Jail killing day]]."

==History==
[[File:Prisoners at work in Dhaka Jail 1906.jpg|thumb|Prisoners at work in 1906]]
Before [[British Raj|British rule]], there was a [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] [[Fortification|fort]] at the site of the current jail. In 1788,<ref name=bt/> the fort was renovated, and converted into a jail. Until 1836, the Kotowali Police station was also co-located here. Records from 1833 show that the capacity of the jail at that time was 800 inmates. However, the jail had an average of 526 inmates every day. The Dhaka jail was converted into the central jail for [[East Bengal]].<ref name="muntasir.mamun">Muntasir Mamun, "Dhaka: Smriti Bismritir Nogori", 3rd edition, 4th reprint, Ananya Publishers, Dhaka, {{ISBN|984-412-104-3}} page 89.</ref> After the [[proclamation of Bangladeshi Independence]] by [[Ziaur Rahman]] in 1971, pro-independence guards working at the jail freed inmates from the prisons, prompting the [[Pakistan army]] to attack and take control of the jail. After the [[independence of Bangladesh|establishment of Bangladesh]], the prison returned to its original form.<ref name=bt>{{cite news|url=https://www.banglatribune.com/national/126419/%E0%A6%98%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B9%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B2-%E0%A6%A2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A7%A8%E0%A6%B6%E2%80%99-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%9B%E0%A6%B0|script-title=bn:ঘটনাবহুল ঢাকা কেন্দ্রীয় কারাগারের ২শ’ বছর|language=bn|first=Amanur Rahman|last=Roni|date=30 July 2016|access-date=21 June 2024|work=[[Bangla Tribune]]}}</ref>

A jail museum was opened here in 2013 and the following year, it was included under the [[Bangladesh National Museum]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kalerkantho.com/print-edition/news/2022/11/03/1199535|script-title=bn:আট বছরেও উন্মুক্ত হয়নি কারা স্মৃতি জাদুঘর|language=bn|date=3 November 2022|access-date=21 June 2024|newspaper=[[Kaler Kantho]]}}</ref> In 2015, a ruin from the period of Muslim rulers was found in the prison area, and the following year, an archaeological excavation was undertaken.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://bangla.thedailystar.net/node/215949|script-title=bn:চকবাজার জেল: ধ্বংসাবশেষের নিচে পুরোনো ঢাকার ইতিহাস|language=bn|first=Tarun|last=Sarker|date=11 April 2021|access-date=21 June 2024|newspaper=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]]}}</ref> The jail has been shifted to the new [[Dhaka Central Jail, Keraniganj]] in July 2016.<ref>{{cite news |date=30 July 2016 |title=Dhaka jail prisoners shifted to Keraniganj jail |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/city/prisoners-being-shifted-newly-built-keraniganj-central-jail-1261288 |access-date=25 September 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=28 January 2015 |title=Dhaka Central Jail to be shifted to Keraniganj by June |url=http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2015/01/28/dhaka-central-jail-to-be-shifted-to-keraniganj-by-june/ |access-date=25 September 2017 }}</ref> In 2017, a project was undertaken to preserve the prison grounds for historical needs. The design by Form Three Architects was finalized in a competition held for the proposed project and work on the project was inaugurated in 2019. According to the design, a cultural center and multipurpose complex will be constructed and in the prison area. Two museums are included in the proposed plan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.khaborerkagoj.com/special-report/796726|script-title=bn:বিনোদনকেন্দ্র হচ্ছে ঢাকার পুরোনো কেন্দ্রীয় কারাগার|language=bn|date=29 December 2023|access-date=21 June 2024|newspaper=Khaborer Kagoj}}</ref> In 2024, it was reported that pre-Mughal remains of the old fort of Dhaka mentioned by historian [[Baharistan-i-Ghaibi|Alauddin Isfahani]] was discovered from the excavation along with rolled and glazed potteries.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kalerkantho.com/print-edition/news/2024/10/30/1440707|script-title=bn:পুরনো কেন্দ্রীয় কারাগারে প্রত্নতাত্ত্বিক খনন: খুলছে ঢাকা আবিষ্কারের নতুন দরজা|language=bn|date=30 October 2024|access-date=1 January 2025|newspaper=[[Kaler Kantho]]}}</ref> It was reported in 2025 that B section, one of the three sections of the proposed project under construction, would be open for public in October 2025. It would include a jail model, a mosque, a shopping mall, a pond and walkway.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.deshrupantor.com/605179/%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2-%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%AF%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%97|title=টাকা দিয়ে জেল খাটার সুযোগ|lang=bn|first1=Habibur Rahman|last1=Palash|first2=Faisal|last2=Khan|date=10 July 2025|newspaper=Desh Rupantor}}</ref>

== Notable inmates ==
* [[Harendranath Munshi]]
* [[Begum Khaleda Zia]]
* [[Motiur Rahman Nizami]]
* [[Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury]]
* [[A. H. M. Qamaruzzaman]]
* [[Tajuddin Ahmad]]
* [[Syed Nazrul Islam]]
* [[Muhammad Mansur Ali]]
* [[Abdul Quader Mollah]]
* [[Muhammad Kamaruzzaman]]
* [[Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed]]
* [[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]]
* [[Hussain Muhammad Ershad]]

== In popular culture ==
A Bangladeshi TV series, ''[[Karagar]]'' was shot at this former jail in 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/entertainment/tv-film/news/karagar-another-landmark-ott-3100016|title=Is 'Karagar' another landmark for OTT?|first=Sharmin|last=Joya|date=23 August 2022|access-date=25 August 2022|newspaper=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|Daily Star]]|archive-date=25 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825184331/https://www.thedailystar.net/entertainment/tv-film/news/karagar-another-landmark-ott-3100016|url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Kashimpur Central Jail]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{commons-inline}}

[[Category:Old Dhaka]]
[[Category:Military history of Dhaka]]
[[Category:Prisons in Dhaka]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in Dhaka]]
[[Category:Mughal fortifications]]
[[Category:Prison museums in Asia]]
[[Category:1788 establishments in British India]]
[[Category:2016 disestablishments in Bangladesh]]

Old Dhaka Central Jail - Revision history

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