Detainee dies in DB custody in Sirajganj

A detainee has died while in the custody of the Detective Branch in Sirajganj. Police claim the death was caused by ‘breathing difficulties’, while doctors have stated that the detainee had injury marks on his body.

He died at about 3:30pm on Friday while undergoing treatment at Sirajganj 250-bed General Hospital.

The deceased, Shahadat Hossain, 45, was the son of the late Khalil Hossain from Kalia Haripur Union under Sirajganj Sadar Upazila.

Dr Hemadri Shekhar Saha, an emergency department physician at Sirajganj General Hospital, said a group of police officers in plain clothes admitted Shahadat to the hospital at about 3:30pm. At the time of admission, there were injury marks on his fingers. When asked about the injuries, the officers claimed they were due to public assault. After admission, the detainee died when his heart stopped.

He said it is suspected that internal bleeding may have occurred. Fear from physical assault could also have led to heart failure. The exact cause will be known after the post-mortem.

Police Superintendent Faruk Hossain could not be reached for comment as he was on leave.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Md Mahbubur Rahman said that on November 12, the body of an autorickshaw driver named Aminul Islam from Raypur area of Sirajganj Sadar Upazila was recovered from under Chowkidah Bridge beside the Bogura–Pabna highway in Ullapara. Criminals had seized his autorickshaw and dumped the body there before fleeing. Shahadat was a suspect in that case.

He added that Ullapara police arrested Shahadat based on secret information in order to recover the stolen battery-run autorickshaw, and handed him over to DB. As he had pre-existing breathing problems, he suddenly fell ill during interrogation. He was admitted to hospital at about 3:30pm on Friday. Colleagues stated he may have died due to breathing complications. The exact cause will be confirmed after the post-mortem.