Amid concerns over custodial deaths of Awami League members in Bangladesh, a leader of the party’s youth wing, Jubo League, passed away in Chattogram Central Jail. Nurul Alam fell ill at the jail and was pronounced dead at Chittagong Medical College Hospital. He had been arrested on June 23 in connection with a case under the Explosive Substances Act.
This incident follows the recent death of another Awami League activist in police custody, leading to criticism and renewed worries about custodial deaths in the country. The Awami League accused the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government of creating “death traps” in prisons, likening the situation to past administrations.
The party expressed concerns over a series of prison deaths and the lack of accountability in the country’s justice system. They criticized the suppression of opposition voices through arrests and intimidation, emphasizing the need for democracy. Meanwhile, Justice Makers Bangladesh in France condemned Nurul’s “mysterious death” in prison, highlighting a pattern of arbitrary arrests and deaths within the Awami League community.
The human rights organization called for a thorough investigation into Nurul’s death, stressing the importance of holding those responsible accountable and ensuring justice for the victim’s family. They pointed out a disturbing trend of individuals dying in police and prison custody without proper transparency or justice mechanisms in place.
