The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has condemned the recent death of BNP leader Touhidul Islam, who was allegedly killed while in the custody of joint forces.

Touhidul, a prominent figure from the Panchthubi Union of Cumilla’s Sadar Upazila, was abducted and killed on January 31, the day before his father's funeral. His family has accused the authorities of torturing him, claiming that his death resulted from severe physical abuse. Disturbingly, numerous marks of torture were reportedly found on his body, it said in a statement on its verified Facebook page on Saturday.

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The student body called the death a tragic continuation of human rights violations in post-July Uprising Bangladesh. The movement highlighted the ongoing issue of extrajudicial killings, calling them a stark contradiction to the aspirations for justice and reform that arose during the July Uprising, which was fueled by public outrage over enforced disappearances and deaths in custody under the previous regime.

"The extrajudicial killing of Touhidul Islam in the custody of law enforcement agencies goes against the very ideals of the revolution that thousands of martyrs sacrificed their lives for," the statement read.

"This incident not only marks a failure of the interim government but is also a clear violation of human rights."

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has called for a thorough and impartial investigation into Islam's death, urging the authorities to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the joint forces' actions. The movement also called for comprehensive reforms within law enforcement agencies to prevent the resurgence of a culture of torture, abductions, and extrajudicial killings.

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“The state must undergo radical reforms to ensure that law enforcement agencies do not continue the practices of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings,” the statement also said.

“We urge the interim government to take more effective action to prevent such incidents and safeguard public safety.”