Mirsharai Awami League Secretary's Custodial Death Raises Allegations of Torture

A senior Awami League functionary from Mirsharai died under suspicious circumstances while incarcerated at Chattogram Central Jail, sparking allegations of torture and medical neglect. The deceased, 55‑year‑old Noor Islam, was the secretary of the local municipal Awami League chapter.

According to prison officials, Islam experienced sharp chest pain on a Wednesday afternoon. He was first examined at the jail's health unit before being transferred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital as his condition worsened. Hospital doctors later confirmed his death.

Superintendent Iqbal Hussain told a prominent newspaper that Islam had been arrested under the Anti‑Terrorism Act of 2009 shortly before his demise. He recounted that the inmate's health deteriorated rapidly after the reported chest pain, necessitating emergency medical transport.

Rokeya Akhtar, the widow, alleges that her husband had been granted bail on August 31 in a political case, only to be re‑detained the next day on a different charge. She claims the continuous legal pressure and lack of proper medical attention contributed directly to his fatal outcome.

The Awami League has condemned the incident as part of a systematic campaign to suppress dissent, accusing the government of exploiting anti‑terror statutes to imprison opposition members. The party is calling for an impartial inquiry and urging global human‑rights organizations to monitor Bangladesh's treatment of political detainees.