Police in Muradnagar, Comilla, arrested five individuals with 70 yaba tablets on Thursday, and one of them, 45-year-old Sheikh Jewel, later died in custody, with his family alleging he was tortured to death by the police.
The deceased, Sheikh Jewel, was the son of the late Sheikh Golam Sarwar of the Sheikh Bari in Bangra village of the upazila.
He was known to operate a broadband internet service in the area and was reportedly an active member of the BNP.
According to police sources, five individuals were arrested Thursday afternoon in the Bangra area while allegedly consuming drugs.
A total of 70 yaba pills were recovered from them.
They were subsequently taken to the police station.
Upon arrival at the station, Jewel reportedly began feeling unwell and was taken to the Upazila Health Complex at 8:50pm, where doctors declared him dead.
Dr Sirajul Islam, the Upazila Health and Family Planning officer, said: “Jewel was brought to us already deceased. There were no visible signs of injury on his body.”
AKM Kamruzzaman, additional superintendent of Police (Muradnagar Circle), said: “Sheikh Jewel was a known drug user and dealer. The exact cause of his death can only be confirmed after the autopsy report. However, the attending doctor has said that there were no marks of injury on his body.”
Sheikh Shafiqul Islam, Jewel’s cousin and a local BNP leader, said that Jewel was arrested under the command of SI Al-Amin of Bangra Bazar police station and was later found dead at the hospital after police informed the family of his transfer.
Jewel’s wife, Shilpi Begum, who saw him at the police station after his arrest, said: “I found out in the afternoon that the police had arrested him. I went to the station and met him. He was in good health."
She added that he claimed innocence and requested her help for release, but later they were informed of his death, which she believes could only have resulted from torture.
In protest of Sheikh Jewel’s death in police custody, residents of the area staged a demonstration in front of Muradnagar Upazila Health Complex on Thursday night.
Leaders of the BNP have demanded a prompt and thorough investigation into the incident and exemplary punishment for those responsible.
Kazi Shah Arfin, the younger brother of former MP and BNP Vice Chairman Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain, condemned the incident in a Facebook post on Thursday night.
He wrote: “A BNP activist has died in police custody at Bangra police station in Muradnagar, despite having no case filed against him. The death of a citizen in a police station without any proven crime is not only inhumane, it is a blatant manifestation of state abuse and oppression."
He further added: "If justice becomes a tool for murder, it cannot be called justice — it is barbarism. We demand an immediate investigation into the incident and exemplary punishment for those involved.”