BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said the government must shoulder the responsibility for the growing incidents of death in jail.
“The incidents of death in jail are taking place one after another under the current regime, especially the dissidents are dying in custody. The government must take responsibility for these incidents,” he said.
In a statement, the BNP leader said killing anyone in jail is an utter violation of human rights.
He said former BNP leader and MP Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu, writer Mostaq Ahmed and many other dissidents died mysteriously in jail.
The statement was issued voicing concerns over the death of Hefazat leader Maulana Iqbal Hossain who fell ill in jail and later died at a hospital on Thursday night.
Fakhrul said there is no credible and acceptable investigation or satisfactory statement from the government regarding the custodial deaths.
He demanded a judicial investigation into the death of Maulana Iqbal.
The BNP leader prayed for the salvation of Iqbal’s departed soul and conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Maulana Iqbal, also the president of Khelafat Majlish’ Sonargaon unit, was arrested by a team of Rab-11 on April 11 as he was the main accused in a case filed over vandalising Royal Resort and creating violence on a highway.
He was taken to Mitford Hospital as he fell sick in Narayanganj district jail where he died last Thursday night.