Army personnel withdrawn over BNP leader’s custodial death in Chuadanga: ISPR

The Bangladesh Army has withdrawn a camp commander and a number of other personnel after a BNP leader, detained over illegal firearms possession, died in their custody, the ISPR said in a statement on Tuesday.

A high-level investigation committee has been formed over the “completely unacceptable incident” and anyone found guilty will be punished in accordance with the law, the statement read.

According to ISPR, around 11pm on Monday night, following specific a tip-off, the joint forces conducted a special drive to recover illegal firearms from an area in Jibannagar Upazila of Chuadanga.

At one point during the drive, the joint forces team detained Shamsuzzaman Dablu, 50, from a drug store on allegations of keeping illegal firearms at the store. The drug store is adjacent to the Jibannagar Upazila Health Complex.

According to media reports and BNP sources, Dablu was the general secretary of BNP's Chuadanga municipality unit.

The ISPR said that based on the information provided by Dablu, the joint forces team searched his drug store and recovered a 0.99mm pistol, one magazine and four rounds of live ammunition.

After the drive was wrapped up, the detained individual suddenly fell sick and lost consciousness, the ISPR statement read. Dablu was rushed to the Jibannagar Upazila Health Complex, where the physicians declared him dead around 12:25am on Tuesday, the statement said.