Dismissed Jubo Dal Leader Dies in Prison Custody

Waliur Rahman Uzzal (37), the dismissed joint convener of the municipal Jubo Dal in Keshabpur, Jashore, who was detained during a joint forces’ operation, has died at the Jashore Central Jail.

He fell ill around 11 pm on Friday (5 December). He was taken to the Jashore 250-bed General Hospital, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead.

The family alleges that Uzzal died due to torture after his arrest. According to doctor Hasibur Rahman, prison guards brought him to the hospital already deceased.

On Thursday night, joint forces arrested Uzzal along with three others. Police stated that weapons, ammunition and drugs were recovered from them. The detainees were later produced before the court in three separate cases involving weapons and drugs.

The victim’s elder brother, BNP leader Afzal Hossain Babu, former councillor of Ward 4 of Keshabpur municipality, claimed that his brother was taken from home in a healthy condition around 1:30 am on Thursday night. He said no weapons or drugs were recovered from him, though later they were told that 20 yaba pills had allegedly been found.

He added that his brother was beaten after being taken away, and torture continued until the Fajr call to prayer. He claimed that Uzzal was denied medical attention and demanded justice.

Jashore Central Jail’s superintendent, Abid Ahmed, said that Uzzal and three others were officially received at the jail between 9:30 and 10 pm on Friday in the weapons and drug cases. Uzzal had a medical certificate stating he had been subjected to mob beating. He responded normally to routine intake questions, but he was suffering from internal haemorrhage. He was sent to the jail hospital ward, but within half an hour he became critically ill. He was referred to the Jashore 250-bed General Hospital around 10:45 pm.

He added that they were informed that Uzzal had been severely beaten outside, describing the injuries as public assault.

Regarding the allegations, Keshabpur Police Station’s officer-in-charge (OC) Anwar Hossain said that four people were arrested on Thursday night by joint forces with weapons, ammunition and cannabis. The police were called to the camp the next morning, where they found the detainees crying. The matter was reported to him. Around 10 am on Friday, they were handed over to police custody and taken to Keshabpur Health Complex. Doctors did not recommend advanced treatment for anyone, and police observed no cut marks on their bodies. They were later sent to court, which ordered them into prison custody.

Khaborwala/SS