A 28-year-old activist of the Awami League’s student wing, Chhatra League, named Mirza Ishtiaq Ahmed Pranto, passed away in police custody in Faridpur district. He was detained by the police Detective Branch in Madhukhali upazila on June 20 and died while receiving treatment at Faridpur Medical College Hospital. Allegations from his family suggest that he was beaten by police, leading to his demise, as reported by Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo.
Ishtiaq’s mother, Khadija Akhter, emotionally questioned the circumstances surrounding her son’s detention and subsequent death, seeking justice for what she termed a “murder.” Rights group Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) expressed deep concern over the incident and called for a judicial investigation to determine the true cause of Ishtiaq’s death. ASK urged authorities to conduct a fair inquiry and hold those accountable responsible for their actions.
The Awami League, while condemning the incident, accused the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government of using state machinery to target and eliminate its members. The party emphasized the importance of law enforcement agencies upholding the law and ensuring accountability, stating that no government has the right to take the life of a citizen. The Awami League stressed the need for justice for the deceased members and emphasized the role of police and administrative authorities in upholding the rule of law.
