, Sept. 8 -- On the outskirts of Khulna, where the city meets the serene banks of the Bhairab River, a long-awaited transformation in the region's penal system is nearing completion.

The new Khulna Central Jail, a sprawling modern correctional complex, is expected to be handed over to prison authorities by October.

The facility, which has been under construction for more than a decade, has now reached 95% completion, according to officials from the Public Works Department (PWD).

Once operational, it will begin the gradual relocation of inmates from the century-old, overcrowded existing jail, a facility that has long been a concern for prison authorities, human rights activists and local residents alike.

Constructed in 1912, the curren...