The old prison is finally set to disappear from the heart of Sylhet city. 

The site, which was used as a prison for more than two centuries, will be turned into an aesthetically designed park. 

Alongside it, a Liberation War museum will be built in the name of Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan, a heroic figure in the country’s history and also father-in-law of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting held at the Home Minister’s office on Thursday afternoon. 

The Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) public relations office announced the decision in a press release later in the afternoon.

The meeting was chaired by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed.

The Central Prison in Sylhet city’s important Dhopadighirpar area was established in 1789. 

A new prison was built in Badaghat on the outskirts of the city a decade ago. 

Since then, there had been demands to remove the old prison from the heart of the city and build a park there. 

The site will now be opened to city residents. It will feature greenery, walking paths and spaces for relaxation.

Alongside the aesthetically designed park, the Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan Liberation War Museum will be built on the prison site. 

This will turn the area into an important place for preserving history and memories.

Building an aesthetically designed recreational park on the site of the old prison was one of the election promises of MP Khandaker Abdul Muktadir. 

Similarly, SCC Administrator Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury had spoken at different times about building a park at the site for city residents.

To implement the promise, the MP and SCC administrator sent demi-official (DO) letters to Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed. 

Following this, the Ministry of Home Affairs formed a high-level committee. 

The committee conducted an on-site inspection, reviewed the relevant matters and submitted a report on handing over the land to the SCC.

Subsequently, a unanimous decision was taken to hand over the land to Sylhet City Corporation for the construction of a park and Liberation War museum.

SCC Administrator Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury expressed gratitude to Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and Industries, Commerce and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir for deciding to hand over the land to Sylhet City Corporation for the construction of a park and Liberation War museum.

In a statement on Thursday, the SCC administrator said, “The long-standing expectations of city residents are now set to become a reality...After all the prisoners at the prison are transferred to the existing prison, the entire site will gradually be transformed into a full-fledged park.”