Fifth AL leader dies in Bogura jail custody

Another Awami League leader has died under the custody of Bogura District Jail. Prior to this, four AL leaders had died in the same jail custody since the July uprising.

The deceased, Emdadul Haque Bhutto, 51, was the organising secretary of Dakshinpara Union AL under Gabtali upazila, locals said.

Jailer Syed Shah Sharif confirmed that Bhutto died while undergoing treatment at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital (SZMCH) around 7:00am yesterday.

"When he was brought to jail in February, he had high blood pressure and heart disease. He was accused in a case filed on September 30 last year under the Explosives Act and for vandalism," the jailer said.

He added that Bhutto was initially taken to Gabtali Upazila Health Complex after his arrest due to his illness, but later he was sent to the jail hospital. However, after having sehri today, he felt unwell again and was sent to SZMCH around 6:30am, where he later died.

The jail authorities said that his body would be handed over to his family after completing legal procedures.

Since the July uprising, four other AL leaders have died in Bogura jail custody due to illness, according to jail authorities.

They are Shahadat Alam Jhunu, organising secretary of Bogura District AL; Abdul Matin Mithu, upazila AL leader and former chairman of Durgahata Union, Gabtali; Abdul Latif, treasurer of Shibganj Upazila AL; and Shahidul Islam Ratan, general secretary of Ward 15, Bogura Municipality AL unit.

According to Bogura Jail sources, the facility is holding 1,600 inmates despite a capacity of just 770. Over 300 individuals have been arrested after August 5 in connection with recent political cases.