Death of BNP leader in Army detention sparks protests in Chuadanga

Police say they were not involved in the operation that led to the leader’s detention

A BNP leader has died after being detained during a raid in Jibannagar Upazila of Chuadanga, triggering protests by local party leaders and activists.

The victim -- Shamsuzzaman Dablu, 55 -- was the general secretary of the Jibannagar municipal unit of the BNP.

Family members and police said Shamsuzzaman was detained by members of the Army around 10:30pm on Monday from his drugstore, Hafiza Pharmacy, in front of the Jibannagar Upazila Health Complex. After questioning at the Upazila BNP office, he was taken to the health complex, where doctors declared him dead around 11:30pm.

Citing local BNP leaders and the victim’s family members, Chuadanga Police Superintendent Mohammad Monirul Islam told bdnews24.com the leader was detained in an Army drive at night.

He said police was not a part of the drive and became aware of the matter only after the body was brought to the hospital.

“Relatives and BNP leaders and activists demonstrated at the hospital. We have visited the place of occurrence,” said Monirul.

The body was sent to the Chuadanga Sadar Hospital for a post-mortem, he added.

In a statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations Directorate the incident was described as “unwanted, regrettable, and in no way acceptable”.

The statement said the camp commander and all Army personnel involved in the operation have already been withdrawn to the cantonment.