Human rights organization Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) has expressed deep concern over the deaths of two citizens in police custody in Comilla and Kishoreganj within just five days.
ASK is demanding immediate judicial investigations to ensure fair and impartial inquiry into both incidents.
In a statement signed by the organization’s Senior Coordinator, Abu Ahmed Faizul Kabir, ASK detailed the incidents.
On June 19, Sheikh Jewel, a 35-year-old man, was detained during an anti-narcotics operation in the Bangra Bazar area of Muradnagar, Comilla.
Police claimed that he fell ill while in custody and was taken to the Upazila Health Complex, where doctors pronounced him dead. However, his family alleged that he died as a result of police torture.
In another incident on June 13, Feroza Begum, a 50-year-old woman, was arrested during a police operation in the Kotiadi municipal area of Kishoreganj.
According to media reports and local sources, she had no arrest warrant against her but was still taken to the police station, where she died the following morning while in custody.
Although police initially labeled the incident as a `natural death,` the CCTV footage from the police station has yet to be released, which ASK insists is essential for understanding what really happened.
ASK pointed out that in both cases, the families of the deceased accused the police of custodial torture.
The organization raised concerns that law enforcement agencies are treating these deaths as ‘natural’ from the outset without proper investigation, which could obstruct the path to justice.
ASK further emphasized that deaths in custody are criminal offenses under the "Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act, 2013" and must be investigated accordingly.
To ensure impartiality, the organization demanded judicial investigations in both cases, immediate public release of the relevant CCTV footage, security and legal support for the victims’ families, and proper accountability for those responsible.
The statement added that such recurring incidents of custodial deaths not only erode public trust in law enforcement but also contribute to a worrying culture of human rights violations.
ASK reminded that the state is constitutionally bound to protect the lives, dignity, and rights of its citizens and called on law enforcement agencies to uphold professionalism, human rights, and accountability.
