Dhaka, Nov. 1 -- After 14 years of construction, Khulna's new prison has been inaugurated, marking a major expansion of the city's correctional infrastructure.

A shortage of personnel means the facility will initially house only 100 sentenced inmates, while operations at the old jail will continue.

On Saturday, Mohammad Munir Hussain, the district jail officer, said: "The government has decided in principle to keep both prisons operational. For now, the existing staff will manage both facilities."

Khulna's first jail was built in 1912 along the Bhairab River, with a capacity for 678 inmates. At present, it holds more than 1,400 prisoners in its 113-year-old structure, posing serious safety risks -- prompting the construction of the new...