Mymensingh AL leader falls to his death trying to dodge arrest

His wife says he had not been involved in politics for the past decade

An Awami League leader has died in Mymensingh after falling from the rooftop of his home while attempting to evade arrest.

The dead, Kazi Manjur Morshed Raju, was a former organisational secretary of the Mymensingh Metropolitan unit of the Awami League.

Around 7:30pm on Thursday, police reportedly raided his residence in the city’s Baghmara.

Raju was injured after falling from the rooftop and later died on Friday afternoon while undergoing treatment.

Raju’s brother Kazi Shiplu said: “Yesterday, Kotwali police went to arrest my brother. They asked us to open the gate. Realising what was happening, my brother Raju jumped from the second-floor rooftop to avoid arrest.”

“While falling, he hit his head on the balcony and was seriously injured. After police left, locals saw Raju lying unconscious and informed the family. He was then taken to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.”

He added that Raju was later taken to a local private hospital, where doctors placed him in the ICU. He was declared dead around 3pm on Friday.

Raju’s wife, identified only as Sathi, said Raju had not been involved in politics for the past decade and had withdrawn from political activities.

She said there were no cases filed against him and that he had been leading a normal life since Aug 5.

Mymensingh Additional Superintendent of Police Abdullah Al Mamun said, “As part of a routine police operation, a raid was conducted at the residence of Kazi Manjur Morshed Raju.”

“Police knocked on the collapsible gate outside the house. However, as no one opened the gate, they returned. I have no information about what happened there afterwards.”