Jamalpur, August 9 — A violent clash between two groups of inmates at Jamalpur District Jail resulted in the deaths of six prisoners and left at least seven others injured on Friday. The unrest involved arson and an attempt to escape by breaking the jail gate, but authorities have since regained control of the situation.
Abu Fattah, an official from the Jamalpur prison district, confirmed the fatalities, identifying the deceased as Arman, Shyamal, Jasim, Fazle Rabbi Babu, Raihan, and Rahat—all residents of Jamalpur Sadar Upazila.
The conflict, which erupted on Thursday afternoon, quickly escalated as inmates attacked the jailer and attempted to take him hostage in a bid to escape. Prison guards responded by firing blank shots to contain the situation. In the ensuing chaos, inmates set fire to two buildings within the jail premises, including the jailer's quarters and a gate near the main entrance. Four prisoners and three prison guards sustained serious injuries and were subsequently admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital and Jamalpur General Hospital.
Authorities, including the army, RAB, police, and fire service, were deployed to restore order. The situation was brought under control by 3 a.m., and all hostages were safely released. According to Abu Fattah, no prisoners managed to escape during the turmoil.
Efforts are now underway to repair the damage caused by the fire, with the Public Works Department already working on restoring the gate and other affected buildings within the jail.
Jamalpur District Jail currently houses 669 prisoners, including 100 convicted inmates. Authorities noted that there are no known terrorists among the prison population.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about security and overcrowding in Bangladesh's prison system, which has been the site of several violent outbreaks in recent years.
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