All army personnel involved in the operation have been withdrawn following the death of a BNP leader in army custody in Jibannagar upazila of Chuadanga district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Tuesday.

A high-level investigation committee has been formed to determine the actual cause of the incident and to take appropriate action, according to an ISPR press release.

Based on intelligence information, a special joint-force operation was conducted in Jibannagar upazila around 11pm on Monday, the ISPR said.

During the operation, Shamsuzzaman Dablu, 50, was arrested from a pharmacy adjacent to the Jibannagar Upazila Health Complex on suspicion of possessing illegal weapons.

The joint force searched the pharmacy and recovered one 9mm pistol, one magazine and four rounds of ammunition, the release said.

Read more: BNP seeks Army Chief’s intervention over Chuadanga BNP leader’s killing

At one stage, Dablu suddenly fell ill and became unconscious. He was immediately taken to the Jibannagar Upazila Health Complex, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead at around 12:25am.

Describing the incident as “regrettable and unacceptable”, the ISPR said all military personnel involved in the operation, including the camp commander, have been withdrawn. Legal action will be taken against those found guilty in accordance with military law, it added.

UNB Chuadanga Correspondent reports: The death of a local BNP leader in army custody has triggered widespread tension in Jibannagar, raising questions over the circumstances of his death and sparking protests across the town.

Shamsuzzaman Dablu, general secretary of Chuadanga municipality unit BNP and a resident of Hospitalpara, died around midnight after being taken into custody during the army operation near the upazila health complex.

According to local sources, Dablu was at a medicine shop when army personnel approached him at around 10:30pm. He died within two hours of being detained.

Family members and BNP leaders alleged that Dablu died due to torture while in custody, fuelling anger in the area.

“My brother has been murdered,” said Shariful Islam Kajol, Dablu’s brother.

Mahmud Hasan Khan, president of Chuadanga district BNP and candidate for Chuadanga-2, alleged that BNP leaders and activists were being tortured under the guise of operations. “The torture was so severe that Shamsuzzaman could not survive,” he said.

BNP leader’s death in custody sparks shock in Chuadanga

Chuadanga Superintendent of Police Mohammad Monirul Islam said Dablu was taken to the hospital after falling ill, where doctors declared him dead. “Lieutenant Colonel Imran of the army informed us of the incident,” he said.

A postmortem examination was conducted on Tuesday morning at the site by Jibannagar Upazila Executive Officer Md Al Amin in the presence of police.

Meanwhile, BNP leaders and activists continued protests in front of the Jibannagar Upazila Health Complex. Additional police have been deployed in the area to prevent any untoward situation.