United News of Bangladesh

All army personnel involved in the operation have been withdrawn following the death of a BNP leader in army custody in Jibannagar upazila of Chuadanga district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Tuesday.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unacceptable”, the ISPR said all military personnel involved in the operation, including the camp commander, have been withdrawn.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

The death of a local BNP leader in army custody has sent shockwaves through Jibannagar, Chuadanga, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding his sudden demise and prompting protests across the town. Shamsuzzaman Dablu, 50, general secretary of Chuadanga pouro BNP and a resident of Hospitalpara, died around midnight on Monday (January 12, 2026) after being taken into custody during an army operation near Jibannagar Upazila Health Complex. According to reports, Dablu was at a medicine shop when army personnel approached him at around 10:30 pm. Within two hours of being taken, he had died. Family members and BNP leaders allege that Dablu’s death was the result of torture, a claim that has intensified anger in the area. Read more: Mirza Abbas alleges plot to destabilise country, vows not to fall into trap “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, said, “BNP leaders and activists are being tortured under the pretext of operations. The intensity of the torture was so severe that Shamsuzzaman could not survive.” The army, however, maintains that Dablu fell ill suddenly during questioning and died of a stroke. A foreign pistol and four rounds of ammunition were reportedly recovered from him during the operation, which the army described as part of a routine effort to recover arms. Chuadanga district Superintendent of Police Mohammad Monirul Islam said that Dablu was taken to the hospital after falling ill, where doctors declared him dead. “Lieutenant Colonel Imran of the army informed us of the details of the incident,” he said. The postmortem was conducted on Tuesday morning (January 13, 2026) at the site by Jibannagar Upazila Executive Officer Md Al Amin, in the presence of police. Read more: BNP gears up in Sylhet as Tarique Rahman set to launch election campaign Meanwhile, protests by BNP leaders and activists continued in front of the Upazila Health Complex, prompting the deployment of additional police to maintain order.