A prisoner of Barisal Central Jail being tried in a narcotics case died at Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital Monday.
The family of Jamshed Haoladar alias Jashem, 32, son of Abdul Gani Haoladar of Nathullabad area in the city, alleged that he had died because of torture in police custody.
Sub-Inspector Helaluddin of Barisal city Detective Branch arrested Jamshed on July 29 with five bottles of Phensidyl. A case was filed with the Barisal airport police station.
Deputy Jailer Fakhruddin Ahmedsaid Jamshed had been sent to jail on July 30 and he was sick and was given primary treatment at Barisal General Hospital.
On September 1, Dr Saiful Islam of the jail hospital visited Jamshed at 9am and referred him to the SBMCH prison cell for allergy and chest pain.
“Jamshed was transferred to medicine ward at 1:30pm and he died at 2:30am early Monday. The cause of his death will be known once the autopsy report is available,” the doctor said.
In his deposition report, SI at Barisal Kotwali police station MR Mukul mentioned symptoms of allergy and signs of inflammation on the body.
Jamshed’s brother Saddam, who is a leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League, said: “Instigated by some activists of a rival faction, SI Helaluddin planted five bottles of Phensidyle and arrested my brother on the rooftop of our house.
“Helaluddin demanded Tk50,000 for releasing my brother without tortured. But even after giving Tk40,000, Jashem was not released.”
SI Helaluddin denied the allegations, saying it was a month-old case and he could not remember everything.
