The army camp commander and all personnel in Chuadanga have been withdrawn, after a joint forces operation late Monday resulted in the custodial death of Jibannagar unit BNP General Secretary Md Shamsuzzaman, 50, locally known as Dablu.
In an official statement on Tuesday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) described the incident as “undesirable, sad, and unacceptable.”
It further confirmed that a high-level investigation committee has been formed to determine the exact cause of the incident and affirmed that appropriate legal action will be taken under army law against any individuals found guilty.
According to the statement, an operation was launched at approximately 11pm on Monday based on intelligence regarding illegal weapons, leading to the detention of Dablu from a pharmacy near the Jibannagar Upazila Health Complex.
A search conducted based on information provided by Dablu led to the recovery of one 9mm pistol, one magazine, and four bullets.
Following the operation, the detainee suddenly became ill and unconscious and was rushed to the health complex, where the duty doctor declared him dead at approximately 12:25am, reads the ISPR statement.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday called for the army chief’s intervention following the custodial death of Dablu.
In a media statement, Fakhrul said people expect all crimes to be punished through judicial courts during the tenure of the current interim government.
Allegations of planned murder, widespread protests
Mokbul Hossain, the Jibannagar upazila health and family planning officer, stated that Dablu was brought to the facility at 12:16am on Monday night and was already dead upon arrival.
Jibannagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Solaiman Sheikh reported that the body was kept at the health complex for an autopsy before being handed over to the family.
The victim’s wife, Jesmin Nahar, has refuted the official account, alleging that the incident was a “planned murder” carried out by the army after they picked him up from his business, “Hafiza Pharmacy,” at 10:15pm.
She claimed that the soldiers took him to the BNP party office, located only 50 metres away, before his death occurred.
News of the death led activists from the BNP and its associate organisations to stage widespread protests late at night, where they blocked roads and set fires in front of the hospital while chanting slogans demanding punishment for those involved.
The Human Rights Support Society (HRAS) has also expressed concern and condemnation, demanding a fair investigation and trial.
Rising toll of custodial deaths across country
The total number of custodial deaths reached 17 within the first five months of interim government, with ten among them dying in joint forces custody.
Recent victims include Ujjal Biswas, 39, a member of the Keshabpur municipality Jubo Dal and younger brother of former councillor Afzal Hossain, who died in Jashore after being taken to prison following a joint army and police operation on 5 December. He is accused in 10 cases.
On 31 January 2025, Touhidul Islam, the convener of the Panchthupi Union Jubo Dal in Cumilla Adarsha Sadar Upazila, also died in custody after falling ill following his detention by joint forces, an event that similarly led to the withdrawal of a local camp commander.
Two individuals were killed in a “gunfight” with joint forces during “Operation Devil Hunt” on the night of 19 February 2025 in the Basila 40-foot area of Chand Uddan, Mohammadpur, Dhaka.
These individuals were identified as Jummon, 26, son of Abdul Sattar from Gosairhat, Shariatpur, and Miraj Hossain, 25, son of Md Shahjahan Ali from Char Fasson, Bhola, both of whom were living as tenants in the Chand Uddan area.
Other reported custodial fatalities during this five-month period include Ilahi Shikdar in Gopalganj, Syed Nurul Kabir in Narayanganj, Shafiqul Islam in Gaibandha, Sahidul Islam in Mymensingh, Kawsar Hossain and Champa Khatun in Savar, Md Sharif in Chattogram, Hriday Rabi Das in Kishoreganj, Atik Hasan Sardar in Jashore, Moslem Uddin in Cox’s Bazar, Yasin Mia in Kishoreganj, Abdur Rahman in Noakhali, and Milan Bepari in Shariatpur.
