Bogura AL leader, who was handed to police by the mob, dies in custody

An Awami League leader from Bogura who was allegedly assaulted by a mob and later handed over to police has died while in custody.

Shahnur Alam Shanto, 55, a local leader of the activity-banned Awami League from Sariakandi upazila, died around 10pm on Friday (14 March) while undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases.

With his death, six Awami League leaders from Bogura who were imprisoned have died while receiving treatment.

Bogura Jail Superintendent Nurul Mubin said, “Shahnur Alam Shanto was sent to Bogura jail on 4 January in connection with an explosives case filed in Bogura Sadar.

“Later, on 17 January, he was transferred from Bogura to the Keraniganj Central Jail in Dhaka,” he added.

According to Shahnur’s relatives, “On the night of 3 January several BNP activists allegedly created a mob in the Naruli area of Bogura town, assaulted him and took him away. They later demanded Tk3 lakh as ransom. When the family sought assistance from Bogura Sadar Police Station, police rescued him but took him into custody instead of arresting the alleged abductors.”

His wife, Mariam Sultana, alleged that although there was no case filed at the police station, Bogura Sadar police kept him detained for two days. Later, he was arrested in an old explosives case under investigation and produced before a court on 5 January. The court rejected his bail petition and ordered that he be sent to jail. He was later taken to hospital after falling ill in prison.

Deputy Jailor of Keraniganj Central Jail Tayeba told media that Shahnur was sent to hospital after he fell ill. “He had previously been sent to hospital twice after becoming ill,” she said.

Investigating officer of the case, SI Amit Hasan of Bogura Sadar Police Station, said Shahnur was arrested in a case filed for the attempted murder of BNP leader Suraiya Zerin and under the Explosives Act.

According to his wife, Shahnur suffered from high blood pressure and diabetes. About seven years ago he lost one leg in a motorcycle accident and had a rod inserted in his hand. He used to move around with the help of crutches.

Raqib Hossain, the deceased’s son alleged that his father did not receive proper medical treatment. He said that by the time his father was taken to hospital, his kidneys had already stopped functioning.

Although doctors advised that he be taken to the National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology, prison authorities took him back to the Keraniganj Central Jail. Later, when his condition became critical, he was taken to hospital again, where doctors declared him dead around 10pm.