AL supporter shopkeeper dies in Chattogram after seeing police

A 60-year-old Awami League supporter named Lal Mia died of a stroke in Khulshi, Chattogram. Allegations have surfaced that he collapsed and died in front of the police when they attempted to arrest him without a case.

The incident took place on Sunday (March 2) at around 4 pm inside the Kusumbag Residential Area near the Garib Ullah Shah Mazar under Khulshi police station.

Lal Mia was a grocery shop owner and the son of the late Abdus Sobhan. His brother, Shahjahan Company, is a local Awami League leader.

Lal Mia's son, Rakibul Hasan, said, "After Asr prayers on Sunday, a team of police officers from Khulshi police station came to my father's grocery shop to arrest him. They questioned him in various ways and asked him to step outside the shop. At that moment, my father started trembling. He was fasting, and suddenly, he collapsed on the ground."

The police officers immediately left the scene. Family members took him to a nearby private hospital, where doctors declared him dead. According to the doctors, he suffered a heart attack.

Faruk Shikder, General Secretary of the Kusumbag Residential Area Shop Owners’ Association, said, "The deceased's name is Lal Mia Afan. He was involved with the Awami League but was not involved in any wrongdoing. There was no case or even a general diary (GD) against him. However, his brother is an Awami League leader. On Sunday afternoon, SI Robiul Islam from Khulshi police station came to arrest him, and he suffered a heart attack."

"Lal Mia Afan used to live in a rented house belonging to BNP leader Abdul Alim Shah Alam. He had two sons and one daughter. His body is now being taken to his village home in Barishal for burial," he added.

Khulshi Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mojibur Rahman Kawser said, "There was no case against the deceased. However, we were looking for another person who had an arrest warrant. Our team went to Kusumbag to arrest that individual. We did not go there to arrest Lal Mia. We only asked him for information regarding the accused person, and at that moment, he suddenly fell ill. He was taken to the hospital, where he later passed away."