The deceased, Shamsuzzaman Dablu, was the general secretary of the BNP’s Jibannagar municipal unit in Chuadanga district. He was taken into custody late Monday night from his pharmacy during what authorities described as a routine security operation.
Dablu’s family and BNP leaders alleged that he was severely beaten while in custody and died as a result of torture. His wife, Jasmin Nahar, who is also a local BNP leader, called the death a “planned killing” and demanded accountability.
“This is not a natural death. He was taken away healthy and returned dead,” she alleged, according to Bangladeshi media reports.
The Bangladesh Army rejected the allegations, saying Dablu fell ill during interrogation and died after suffering a stroke. Officials also claimed a foreign-made pistol and ammunition were recovered during the operation, a charge disputed by BNP supporters.
News of the death sparked unrest across Jibannagar, with BNP activists blocking roads, setting fires, and chanting slogans demanding justice. Heavy police deployment was reported in the area as tensions simmered for hours.
Local BNP leaders accused the interim administration of targeting opposition figures under the guise of law enforcement operations. “BNP leaders are being systematically harassed and tortured,” said district BNP president Mahmud Hasan Khan.
Dablu’s death marks the second reported custodial death in Bangladesh within a week, deepening concerns over human rights and political violence during the election code of conduct period.
Bangladesh has remained volatile since the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, with repeated reports of political arrests, street violence and attacks on minorities.
The interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has called for calm and reiterated its commitment to holding “free and fair” elections on February 12, 2026.
However, opposition parties argue that custodial deaths and security crackdowns risk undermining the credibility of the electoral process.
