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Published : 20 Jun 2025, 09:24 PM
A businessman has died in the custody of Muradnagar Police Station in Cumilla after being arrested in a drug raid.
His family alleges he was tortured, but police claim he died of a heart attack.
The deceased, Sheikh Jewel, 45, was an internet service provider.
Police say Jewel and four others were detained on Thursday afternoon while using drugs. A total of 70 yaba pills were seized from them.
After being taken to the police station, Jewel reportedly felt unwell and was transferred to the Upazila Health Complex at 8:50pm, where doctors declared him dead.
Jewel’s wife, Shilpi Begum, visited him at the station after his arrest.
“He seemed fine at the time. He told me ‘I haven’t done anything wrong. Please try to get me out.’ Then suddenly I was told he had died. A healthy man can’t just die like that. He was tortured,” she said.
Sirajul Islam, the health and family planning officer at Muradnagar Upazila, said: “Jewel was brought to the hospital at 9pm. He was already dead when we received him. There were no visible signs of injury on his body.”
Local residents protested in front of the Muradnagar Upazila Health Complex later that night following his death.
When asked, Additional Superintendent of Police (Muradnagar Circle) AKM Kamruzzaman said: “Sheikh Jewel was a known drug user and dealer. We will need the post-mortem report to determine the exact cause of death.
“The allegations against police are not accurate. Every area of our station is covered by CCTV. That footage will make things clear. Jewel also had a history of heart disease.”
However, Kamruzzaman confirmed there were no existing cases or complaints against Jewel under the Narcotics Control Act.
Muradnagar BNP Convenor Mahiuddin Anjan claimed Jewel was a BNP activist, and his brother is the organising secretary of the Bangara East Union unit of Jubo Dal, the BNP’s youth wing.
BNP leaders have demanded a fair investigation into the incident and punishment for those responsible.
However, others have claimed that Jewel was an activist of Jubo League, youth wing of the recently banned Awami League.
