Dhaka, 26 June (H.S.): Serious questions have been raised over the deaths of three activists affiliated with the Awami League, the party of ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Their families have alleged that the deaths were the result of a police conspiracy and claimed that all three were killed. The deaths occurred in separate incidents linked to police action over a span of four days, triggering protests in some areas. The Awami League remains banned in Bangladesh.

According to a report published by the Dhaka Tribune, the incidents occurred between June 21 and June 25 in Barisal, Faridpur and Chattogram. The deceased included a ward-level Awami League leader, a Bangladesh Chhatra League activist and a Jubo League leader. While authorities have cited different causes in each case, family members and political supporters have questioned the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The latest incident occurred on Wednesday, when Nurul Alam, joint convener of the Dhemsha Union Jubo League in Satkania upazila of Chattogram, died less than a day after being sent to jail in connection with an explosives case. He was transferred from Chattogram Central Jail to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where he later died.

Jail authorities said Nurul complained of feeling unwell on Wednesday morning. He was initially treated at the jail hospital before being referred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. According to jail officials, his death certificate listed respiratory distress as the cause of death. However, his family rejected the official explanation, alleging that he had been arrested by the Detective Branch police on Tuesday and was killed as part of a conspiracy.

The incident followed the death of Bangladesh Chhatra League activist Mirza Ishtiaq Ahmed in Madhukhali, Faridpur. Mirza died on Sunday. According to his family, he was arrested by the district Detective Branch on Saturday afternoon and beaten in front of his mother. He died the following morning at Faridpur Medical College Hospital. Police have not publicly disclosed the cause of his death.

Following the incident, protests erupted in Madhukhali. Local residents blocked the Dhaka–Khulna highway for about 40 minutes before withdrawing the blockade at the family's request.

Subsequently, on Tuesday, Syed Mohammad Alamgir Hossain, the officer in charge of the Faridpur DB Sadar Zone, was removed from his post and transferred to the police lines. Authorities cited administrative reasons for the transfer.

The first of the three incidents occurred on Sunday in Barisal, where Rashid Khan Menon, general secretary of Ward No. 1 Awami League, died during a police raid. According to allegations, he died while attempting to evade arrest. Eyewitnesses said Rashid was trying to escape across rooftops when he slipped, suffered a head injury after falling, and was later declared dead at a local hospital.

No independent investigation has yet been announced into any of the three incidents.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar