The district jail is located beside the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Bhelanagar, Narsingdi town. On July 19 last year, during a student and public uprising, several thousand people marched to the jail, attacked it, and set it on fire. At that time, 826 prisoners escaped, including nine who were considered highly dangerous. Later, on the day the then-ruling Awami League (AL) government fell, riots and unrest broke out in 16 more jails across the country. During that time, 2,232 prisoners escaped from different jails. Seventeen jails were damaged. They were repaired at a cost of BDT 180 million and have since returned to normal operations. However, one-third of the escaped prisoners, including 70 high-risk inmates, are still missing. Experts fear that many of these fugitives may now be involved in criminal activities. The Department of Prisons has asked law enforcement agencies to take action regarding the escaped prisoners.

According to the Department of Prisons, on August 5, unrest broke out in 17 jails across the country due to the emerging political situation. All prisoners escaped from the jails in Narsingdi, Sherpur, and Satkhira. From Narsingdi, 826 inmates escaped. From Sherpur, 500 escaped; in Satkhira, the number was 600. In addition, 105 prisoners escaped from Kushtia Jail, and 200 high-risk inmates fled from Kashimpur High-Security Jail. Although Jamalpur Jail suffered heavy damage, no prisoners escaped from there. 2,232 inmates escaped from jails across the country during that time. Later, 1,450 of them returned. Among those who returned, 1,100 have already been released because their sentences ended or they were granted bail. The remaining 350 prisoners are still in jail.

On July 19, during the student and public movement, the first incident of attack and arson took place at Narsingdi Jail. At that time, thousands of people marched to the Narsingdi District Jail and attacked it. They broke the locks of the prison cells. A total of 826 prisoners escaped, including nine members of a banned organization. During the incident, weapons, ammunition, and food supplies were looted. There was also extensive vandalism. Initially, the prison authorities and guards tried to resist. But as the situation worsened, they were forced to retreat. At one point, to save their lives, some of the guards even blended in with the prisoners.

Kashimpur High-Security Prison is considered the most secure prison in the country. This prison usually holds inmates serving life sentences, those involved in multiple serious crimes, or those linked to terrorism and militancy. On August 6, the day after the fall of the government, inmates inside Kashimpur High-Security Central Jail started a rebellion in the afternoon. During the riot, they tried to break out of the prison. When the guards tried to stop them, the prisoners attacked. Some broke the walls, some climbed over them, and others used electric pipes attached to the wall to beat the guards while trying to escape. Eventually, the army was called in. They launched an operation and managed to suppress the rebellion. However, 209 prisoners managed to climb the wall and escape. Six inmates were shot dead by security personnel while fleeing.

After the Kashimpur incident, unrest spread to Jamalpur Jail. On August 8, around 1:30 pm, some inmates split into two groups and started fighting. Later, they took 13 prison guards hostage, beat them, and tried to break the inner gate to escape. To control the situation, the guards opened fire, killing six people. During the two-hour gunfight, 19 people—including prison staff and inmates—were injured. However, the situation was controlled in the end, and no prisoner escaped Jamalpur Jail.

On the evening of August 5, hundreds of people climbed over the walls of Satkhira Jail and entered. They broke the locks of the main gate and all the cells, freeing 596 prisoners. Later, many prisoners from different categories returned to the jail, but 67, including two women, were still on the run. On the same day, in the afternoon, the main gate of Sherpur District Jail was broken, and the inmates caused destruction, looting, and set fires. During this chaos, 518 prisoners escaped from the jail.

According to prison sources, the Department of Prisons is working to transform all prisons into correctional facilities. Following the anti-discrimination movements and administrative reforms in the country, several changes have been introduced in the prison administration. Measures have been taken to ensure discipline among prison officers and staff and to guarantee inmates' rights. A central prison hospital is being built to ensure proper healthcare for inmates and staff. The management of prisons is being made more transparent and accountable with the use of software, RFID, and GPS systems. A 24-hour hotline has also been set up to assist those seeking services. In addition, efforts have been made to transform prisons into productive environments by training inmates and increasing their productivity. With the help of BGMEA, a full-scale garment manufacturing line is being established within the prisons.

Crime analysts believe that the escaped prisoners are facing charges. These include robbery, murder, weapons possession, drug trafficking, rape, and violence against women. Some of these hardened criminals might commit other crimes. This could lead to a worsening of the law and order situation. ASM Nasiruddin, crime analyst and human rights activist, told Bonik Barta, "The prisoners who escaped after breaking out of jail are a threat to the country's security. They were accused in various cases. After escaping, they have become even more dangerous criminals. The escaped criminals could be involved in ongoing crimes like murders, robberies, and hijackings. It is essential to bring them under the law as soon as possible."

Md Jannat-ul-Farhad, assistant inspector general (development) of prisons, told Bonik Barta, "During the student and public uprising, 17 jails in the country were damaged. Six of them were severely affected. The damaged jails have been repaired, and normal operations have resumed. Of the escaped prisoners, 1,450 have returned to jail. Many of them were released because their sentences ended. Others were granted bail. However, nearly 700 prisoners are still on the run. Law enforcement agencies have been informed and will take necessary action."