Dhaka, 22 December (H.S.): A prominent Awami League leader suffered a fatal cardiac arrest while being transferred from Gazipur's Kashimpur Central Jail for police remand on Sunday, jail authorities confirmed, marking another tragic incident amid political tensions in post-upheaval Bangladesh.

The deceased, 43-year-old Wasikur Rahman Babu from North Bashbaria village in Gopalganj's Tungipara upazila, formerly served as president of Badda thana's Chhatra League and youth and sports secretary of Badda thana Awami League.

According to The Daily Star, Kashimpur Central Jail-2 Superintendent Al Mamun reported that Babu collapsed suddenly during the handover process, succumbing to heart failure despite immediate medical intervention.

Arrested Under Anti-Terrorism Act Amid ProtestsBabu had been arrested on September 24 under the Anti-Terrorism Act for allegedly participating in a procession in the capital's Panthapath area. Transferred to Kashimpur Central Jail-2 just three days later, a court subsequently granted police a three-day remand for interrogation.

Al Mamun detailed that a police team arrived at the jail Sunday afternoon to take custody of Babu. As they escorted him from his cell and seated him, he abruptly slumped from the chair and lost consciousness. Rushed to Gazipur's Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital, physicians pronounced him dead on arrival.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar