Locked in, not left out: Chattogram Jail arranges Eid joy for 6,000 inmates

For most people, Eid is a time of reunion, warmth and celebration. But even behind high walls and locked gates, that joy is not entirely out of reach. At Chattogram Central Jail, authorities have taken special initiatives to bring a festive touch to inmates' lives – arranging special meals, opportunities to connect with loved ones, and even a chance to enjoy home-cooked food.

Around 6,000 inmates—including death-row convicts and undertrial prisoners—are currently housed in the jail, all set to observe Eid within its walls. Despite the constraints, the prison has been lit up with colourful decorations, while authorities have arranged special food and an opportunity for inmates to meet with their family members.

Officials say a festive menu has been planned to mark the occasion. On Eid morning, inmates will be served payesh and puffed rice. Lunch will feature polao with beef for Muslim inmates, while goat meat will be provided for those of other faiths. Chicken and sweets will be distributed to all, followed by a dinner of polao, potato curry, fried fish, and betel leaf with areca nut.

Eid jamaats will be held inside the prison. Jail officials will offer prayers at 7:30am, followed by three separate congregations for inmates from 8am.

Senior Jail Superintendent Md Iqbal Hossain said the authorities are doing their best, in line with prison rules, to lift inmates' spirits during Eid. "We are arranging special meals and a proper religious environment so that inmates can observe Eid with some sense of normalcy," he said.

In a rare break from routine restrictions, families will be allowed to send home-cooked meals to inmates on the day after Eid, he added.

Each inmate will be allowed a five-minute phone call with family members, while in-person visits – limited to 15 minutes – will be permitted within three days of Eid.

Beyond the prisoners, there are also 45 children living inside the jail with their incarcerated mothers. As per rules, children can stay with their mothers up to the age of six. Authorities have arranged new clothes for children from underprivileged families, to be distributed ahead of Eid, Iqbal shared.

Established in 1885 during British rule, Chattogram Central Jail is now the second-largest prison in the country. Yet, like many prisons in Bangladesh, it is severely overcrowded – housing more than three times its intended capacity. 

Eid may not bring freedom, but these fleeting moments of happiness are something inmates look forward to and cherish long after.