BANGLADESH JAILS ARE HINDU AND AWAMI LEAGUE KILLING GAS CHAMBERS

Author: Dr Mohsin Ali, New York, U.S.A.

Custodial Deaths, Increasing Allegations of Medical Negligence and Use of Digitalis-Group Drugs in Prisons

A troubling pattern of deaths among imprisoned leaders and activists affiliated with the Awami League and its allied organizations has intensified public concern across Bangladesh. Over recent months, there have been serious allegations of a growing number of detainees arrested in what families describe as politically motivated or harassment cases, who have returned to their loved ones not through release on bail, but as lifeless bodies.

The latest such death occurred on January 11, when Prolay Chaki, a cultural figure and district-level Awami League leader from Pabna, died while in custody. His death has reignited urgent questions about medical care, prison management, and the safety of political detainees.

“Death by Illness” or Systemic Negligence?

Prison authorities have routinely attributed these deaths to pre-existing illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, or sudden physical complications. Families of the deceased, however, strongly contest these claims.

Relatives allege that detainees were subjected to the following: –

Prolonged denial of proper medical attention.

Delays in diagnostic tests and hospital referrals.

Inadequate access to specialist care.

Physical exhaustion and severe mental stress.

According to family members, repeated requests for advanced treatment were ignored until it was too late.

Anxiety Over Digitalis-Group Drugs

Adding to these concerns are persistent allegations that some prisoners were administered digitalis-group medications, including digoxin or digitoxin. These drugs are commonly used in cardiology to regulate heart function, but medical experts caution that the margin between a therapeutic dose and a toxic dose is extremely narrow.

Even slight overdosing can cause: –

Dangerous heart rhythm disturbances

Dizziness, vomiting, and visual impairment

Sudden cardiac failure

Within the prisons, rumours and fear surrounding the use of such medications have spread rapidly, particularly as multiple deaths have been followed by similar official explanations.

A Repeated Pattern Across Multiple Prisons

In recent months, deaths of Awami League leaders and activists have been reported from Kashimpur, Bogra, Pabna, and other detention facilities. While authorities cite varying medical causes, families point to a strikingly repetitive pattern: arrest, denial of bail, deterioration of health, delayed treatment, and death in custody.

The lack of transparent medical records and independent post-mortem reviews has further deepened suspicion.

The Death of Prolay Chaki and Renewed Doubts

The passing of Prolay Chaki has become a focal point of public debate. According to his relatives, he fell seriously ill after his arrest but was not transferred to a specialized hospital in time. They allege that basic medical protocols were ignored, raising questions about whether his death could have been prevented.

Findings of Human Rights Organizations

Human rights organizations have echoed these concerns. The rights group Odhikar reports that at least 100 people have died in prisons and custodial settings over the past 16 months.

Similarly, the Law and Arbitration Center has stated that the majority of custodial deaths they examined involved medical negligence and failures in prison management, rather than unavoidable illness.

Families Left Destitute

Behind each death lies a family pushed into sudden uncertainty. In many cases, the deceased was the sole breadwinner. Widows, elderly parents, and children are left without financial security, social protection, or justice.

For these families, the loss is not only personal—it is also economic and psychological, with long-term consequences.

Bail Denials and Rising Fear

As custodial deaths increase, so does anxiety among families of current detainees. Lawyers and relatives allege that bail is routinely denied or delayed, even in cases involving serious health concerns.

The frustration in relatives’ voices is unmistakable. Many say that political affiliation has effectively become a punishable offence.

Calls for Accountability and Humane Treatment

Human rights groups, legal professionals, and civil society organizations are now demanding: –

Independent and impartial investigations into custodial deaths.

Full disclosure of medical treatment records.

Accountability for negligence or abuse.

Guaranteed access to timely and adequate healthcare.

Humane treatment of all prisoners, regardless of their political affiliation.

As questions multiply and answers remain scarce, the deaths in custody have become more than isolated tragedies. They represent a test of the state’s commitment to human rights, the rule of law, and the sanctity of life.

Until transparency and accountability are ensured, these deaths will continue to cast a long and troubling shadow over the country’s prison system.