DHAKA: Amid rising political tensions ahead of Bangladesh’s general election scheduled for January 7, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) claimed that five of its members have died in prison over the past two weeks. The BNP, which is boycotting the upcoming vote, has termed the arrests of its leadership and over 20,000 politicians as an “unprecedented crackdown” following a massive opposition rally on October 28.
The BNP’s allegations come amidst widespread protests, with thousands taking to the streets in central Dhaka to demand the release of detained activists. The party accuses authorities of arresting its members and subjecting them to torture, sparking concerns about the treatment of detainees in overcrowded and inhumane conditions.
BNP’s legal chief, Kayser Kamal, called for a “full judicial and impartial investigation” into the deaths in custody. The party contends that many activists were subjected to torture while in police custody.
Illegal Detentions and Custodial Deaths of Political Figures in Bangladesh
Relatives of the deceased activists have also raised concerns about the circumstances of their loved ones’ illegal detentions. A cousin of Asaduzzaman Khan Hira, a BNP official who died on December 1, alleged that Hira had been tortured during interrogation, leading to his deteriorating health and subsequent death.
Authorities, however, deny the allegations of torture and assert that the deaths in custody were due to “natural causes.” Sazzad Hossain, an assistant inspector general of prisons, confirmed the deaths but rejected claims of mistreatment.
The political landscape in Bangladesh has been marred by violence and unrest since the October 28 rally, resulting in casualties and the banning of the Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s largest Islamist party. Human Rights Watch estimates that at least 10,000 opposition supporters have been arrested since the rally, further deepening concerns about democratic freedoms.
Critics argue that the government’s actions are aimed at sidelining opposition figures ahead of general elections. International observers have expressed apprehension about democratic backsliding and alleged extrajudicial killings in Bangladesh under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
