BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said on Friday that 13 leaders from their party have died while in jail custody in the last three months. Labeling each death as a preplanned murder, the BNP leader urged an international investigation into these incidents.
While addressing a press briefing at the party's central office in Nayapaltan of the capital, Rizvi said, “We are frequently getting news of the death of BNP leaders and activists who were brutally tortured in jail custody. In the last three months, 13 BNP leaders have died in jail custody. Every death is a preplanned murder.”

Rizvi highlighted the case of Manowarul Islam, assistant organising secretary of Lakshmitari Mohipur Union unit of the BNP in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur, who died in Rangpur Jail allegedly due to torture without receiving any treatment.
According to Rizvi, Manowarul was detained at the police station instead of being presented before the court, where he faced inhumane torture.

“Police tortured and killed Manowarul instead of giving him treatment. We demand an international
investigation into every case of death in jail custody, including that of Manowarul,” Rizvi said.

Furthermore, Rizvi demanded the immediate unconditional release of several BNP leaders and activists, including Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Mirza Abbas and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, vice chairmen Altaf Hossain Chowdhury and Shamsuzzaman Dudu, as well as chairperson’s advisers Amanullah Aman and Habibur Rahman Habib.
“Even though they are sick, they are plotting to kill them without proper treatment. Family members of jailed leaders are living in deep anxiety as the number of deaths in prisons increases,” Rizvi remarked.

He accused the Awami League government of perpetuating enforced disappearances, killings, arrests, harassment, torture, arson attacks, and destruction of houses, which he claims were orchestrated around the 7 January election to prolong power.
“Random arrests continue across the country. The prisons of the country are full of BNP leaders and activists several times more than the capacity,” Rizvi added.