Student Dies in Netrokona After Fleeing Detective Branch Narcotics Operation

Uncertainty surrounds the death of a twenty-one-year-old college student whose body was delivered to a hospital in Netrokona following an anti-narcotics raid conducted by the Detective Branch (DB) of police.

The victim, identified as Sabbir Mia, was a second-year undergraduate student at Netrokona Government College. He was the son of Nazim Uddin, a small-scale trader selling betel leaf and cigarettes at the local Mechhuabazar market in Netrokona town.

According to statements from law enforcement, a operational unit from the Netrokona District Detective Branch was proceeding towards Ruhi village, situated near Amtola in Netrokona Sadar Upazila, on Tuesday afternoon for an anti-drug operation. Whilst the team was passing near the Harikhali canal embankment, a group of young men noticed the police presence and attempted to flee the scene. During the pursuit, several of the individuals reportedly tumbled into the canal.

Police officials asserted that nearby villagers subsequently extracted the youths from the water, leaving one of them critically ill on the adjacent road. DB officers stated that upon discovering the unconscious youth in a precarious condition, they immediately picked him up and transported him to Netrokona Modern Sadar Hospital, where medical staff declared him dead.

Dr Mazharul Amin, the Residential Medical Officer (RMO) at Netrokona Modern Sadar Hospital, stated that the victim was admitted to the emergency unit at approximately 4:30 pm on Tuesday. Duty doctors performed an electrocardiogram (ECG) to confirm the cessation of life. Dr Amin highlighted that the young man’s clothing was thoroughly soaked upon arrival, emphasising that the exact cause of death remains unconfirmed pending the results of a forensic post-mortem examination.

The victim’s family and friends have firmly rejected the official account, describing the youth’s sudden death as highly suspicious. Sabbir’s sister, Purnima Akter, alongside his friend Jihad Mia, publicly questioned why he would fall into a canal with his mobile phone remaining in his pocket if he had simply gone swimming or fallen accidentally. Calling into question the conduct of the DB officers, the bereaved family has demanded a comprehensive and transparent official investigation to uncover the truth and ensure accountability.

In response to the allegations, Additional Superintendent of Police Md Hafizul Islam reaffirmed that the police officers were strictly carrying out an authorised anti-narcotics mission. He explained that officers acted in good faith by delivering the critically ill youth to hospital medical staff after finding him abandoned on the roadside by local residents, adding that further legal and investigative steps will follow the autopsy findings.