A Chhatra League activist died in police custody in Faridpur district, Bangladesh, on 22 June, with his family alleging he was beaten to death by officers of the Detective Branch (DB) — the latest in a series of custodial deaths of Awami League members that rights groups say is becoming a pattern under the current administration.

What Happened

The deceased, Mirza Ishtiaq Ahmed Pranto, 28, was detained by the DB police in Madhukhali upazila of Faridpur on 20 June. He was subsequently admitted to Faridpur Medical College Hospital, where he died on Sunday. His family has directly accused police personnel of assault, alleging the beating caused his death.

His mother, Khadija Akhter, said: 'For what crime was my healthy, innocent son taken, tortured, and killed in DB custody? I seek justice for this murder.'

Rights Group Demands Judicial Probe

Dhaka-based human rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) expressed grave concern over the death and called on Bangladeshi authorities to initiate a judicial investigation. In a formal statement, ASK demanded an impartial inquiry to determine the actual cause of death and ensure accountability for those responsible.

The group also demanded the release of complete CCTV footage from the custody period to ensure transparency, alongside legal aid and security for the victim's family, according to reports in Bangladesh's Business Standard newspaper.

Awami League Accuses BNP Government

The Awami League condemned the incident, directly accusing the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government of deploying state machinery to 'target and eliminate' its leaders and activists.

'Under any government, the responsibility of law enforcement agencies is to uphold the law, not to create fear. When a citizen dies under state custody or shortly after being taken into custody under suspicious circumstances, it cannot simply be dismissed as a death. It raises serious questions of accountability and points to what appears to be a deliberate killing,' the Awami League said in a statement.

The party further warned: 'The BNP government must remember that no matter how powerful a state may be, it can never place itself above accountability.'

A Widening Pattern of Custodial Deaths

This comes amid a documented rise in custodial deaths of Awami League members and affiliates since the political transition in Bangladesh. Rights observers have flagged that the frequency of such incidents raises structural concerns beyond individual cases. The Awami League has maintained that the police and administrative apparatus must 'uphold the rule of law, not implement the agenda of any political party.'

Authorities in Faridpur have not yet issued a public response to the family's allegations. A judicial inquiry, if ordered, would be a key test of institutional accountability in what critics argue is an increasingly polarised law-enforcement environment.