BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called for the direct intervention of the Army Chief following the death of a local BNP leader in custody in Chuadanga. The deceased, Shamsuzzaman Dablu, was the General Secretary of the Jibannagar Municipal BNP.
Local BNP activists and family members alleged that Shamsuzzaman Dablu was tortured to death by security forces under the guise of an arms recovery drive. The incident has sparked intense protests and road blockades in the Jibannagar area since early Tuesday morning.
Allegations of Custodial Torture
According to local sources, a team of security forces detained Shamsuzzaman Dablu from his business establishment, ‘Hafiza Pharmacy,’ near the Jibannagar Upazila Health Complex around 10:00 PM on Monday (January 12).
His brother, Shariful Islam Kajol, an Upazila Forest Officer, alleged that the security forces took Dablu to the Upazila BNP office for a recovery drive and subjected him to “inhuman torture.” At approximately 12:30 AM, Dablu was brought to the Jibannagar Upazila Health Complex, where on-duty doctors declared him dead.
While the security forces reportedly claimed the BNP leader suffered a stroke during interrogation, his family and party colleagues have rejected the claim, labeling it a “planned murder.”
Mirza Fakhrul’s Statement
In a formal statement issued on Tuesday (January 13), Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed deep shock and condemned the “heinous and barbaric” incident.
“Extrajudicial killing through torture is an extreme insult to the laws of the land,” Mirza Fakhrul said. “During the tenure of the current interim government, the people expect that any crime will be addressed through the judicial courts. Torturing a political leader to death in the name of an arms drive is entirely unacceptable.”
The BNP Secretary General specifically sought the intervention of Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman to ensure a fair investigation and justice for the deceased leader.
Local Tensions and Legal Action
The news of Dablu’s death led to widespread unrest in Chuadanga. Protesters blocked roads and demonstrated outside the hospital where his body was kept under security watch.
Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu, President of Chuadanga District BNP, visited the hospital and urged activists to remain calm while promising legal action. “We will handle this through the legal process,” he stated. Jibannagar Municipal BNP Joint General Secretary Shafiuddin Shafi confirmed that the party is preparing to file a formal case.
Solaiman Sheikh, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Jibannagar Police Station, confirmed the death but declined to provide further details regarding the circumstances of the custodial incident.
