Police say the 19-year-old fell ill while in custody.
Shahnewaz Chowdhury Prince has been receiving treatment at Queens Private Hospital in Subidbazar, Sylhet, on 30 October 2026. Photo: Courtesy
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Shahnewaz Chowdhury Prince has been receiving treatment at Queens Private Hospital in Subidbazar, Sylhet, on 30 October 2026. Photo: Courtesy
A 19-year-old leader of the banned Chhatra League has been hospitalised after his family alleged that he was physically tortured in police custody following his arrest in Sunamganj.
However, police have denied the allegation, saying he fell ill while in custody.
Shahnewaz Chowdhury Prince, organising secretary of Sunamganj Sadar upazila Chhatra League, is receiving treatment at Queens Private Hospital in Subidbazar, Sylhet, after being taken there unconscious, his family said.
Prince was arrested from his family home in the Notunpara residential area of Sunamganj town around 11:30pm yesterday (29 October) and taken to Sunamganj Sadar Police Station, Officer-in-Charge Ratan Sheikh confirmed.
His family alleged that he became critically ill after being physically assaulted at the police station. He was initially taken to Sunamganj Sadar Hospital before being transferred to Sylhet for advanced treatment.
The allegations emerged on the same night a Sylhet court delivered its verdict in the 2020 custodial death case of 34-year-old Rayhan Ahmed, who died after being tortured at the Bandarbazar police outpost.
In its observations, the court said police and other law enforcement agencies had no right to subject anyone in custody to physical or mental torture.
Prince’s father, Shah Rukh Raja Chowdhury, said a police team led by Sub-Inspector Zakaria arrived at their Notunpara residence last night.
His father said the police took Prince to the station, telling him that they would arrange a meeting between his son and the officer-in-charge.
Around 1:30am, Prince’s father said he received information from an acquaintance that his son was lying unconscious at the hospital.
The family reportedly rushed there immediately.
Prince was taken to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital in critical condition that night. However, he was subsequently admitted to Queens Private Hospital in Subidbazar as treatment could not be arranged at Osmani Medical College Hospital, his father said.
Prince’s father also said that Prince remained unconscious in hospital.
Meanwhile, a video circulating on Facebook, which his family identified as showing Prince before his arrest, appears to show him speaking to police officers. He is heard saying, “Sir, I will surrender after a few days.”
An officer is then heard replying, “Don’t talk like a fool. After two days, when you pass, we will treat you to sweets. No problem.”
The person identified by the family as Prince is then heard expressing concern that his career would be ruined, to which the officer replies, “Your career is already ruined.”
Shah Rukh Raja Chowdhury denied that his son was involved in politics, saying Prince had sat for this year’s Higher Secondary Certificate examinations from Sunamganj Government College in the science group.
He said his son had previously been arrested in “a false case” and had appeared in the examinations while in jail.
“Despite being on bail, my son was taken from home and, within around two hours, was injured and left at the hospital. I request everyone to pray for my son,” he said.
Sunamganj Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ratan Sheikh denied allegations of physical torture, saying Prince had three cases against him and was arrested as an accused in those cases.
He said Prince was physically weak and had a history of seizures.
“After he fell ill at night, we first took him to Sunamganj Sadar Hospital. The doctor referred him to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital. His family took him from Osmani Medical College Hospital to a private hospital for treatment. He is receiving treatment under police supervision,” the OC said.
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