The officer-in-charge (OC) of the Detective Branch (DB) in Faridpur Sadar zone has been withdrawn following the death of a Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activist while in DB custody in Madhukhali upazila.
Mirza Ishtiak Ahmed, also known as Pranto, 27, a student of Faridpur Law College and resident of West Gondardia area under Madhukhali municipality, died on Sunday morning while undergoing treatment at Faridpur Medical College Hospital.
He was reportedly in DB custody at the time of his death, according to family members.
A withdrawal order issued on Tuesday and signed by Faridpur Superintendent of Police Md Nazrul Islam said Syed Md Alamgir Hossain, OC of DB Sadar Zone, was removed from his post for “administrative reasons” and directed to report to the Faridpur Police Lines by 1pm the same day. The order took immediate effect.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Fatema Islam confirmed the development, saying the decision was taken on administrative grounds and that the officer had already been attached to the police lines.
According to the victim’s family, Ishtiak was detained by DB police around 5pm on 20 June.
The family further claimed that he was beaten in the presence of his mother during the detention. He later fell ill and died 8pm on Sunday while under custody at the hospital.
The incident sparked protests in the area on Monday ahead of the funeral prayer, when locals blocked the Dhaka-Khulna Highway for around 40 minutes, causing long traffic congestion on both sides. The blockade was later withdrawn following appeals from the deceased’s family.
At the funeral held at Madhukhali Eidgah ground, local BNP leaders, including Upazila BNP President Shahabuddin Ahmed, addressed the gathering.
The BNP leaders described the incident as a “murder” and demanded that those involved be identified and brought to justice through a swift legal process.
Police sources said the withdrawal of the DB officer was part of administrative action following the custodial death incident, while further procedures are under consideration.
