Hefajat activist accused in 3 cases dies in police custody

An activist of Hefajat-e-Islam, an accused in three violence cases in Narayanganj's Sonargaon, died in police custody at a hospital in Dhaka today.

Iqbal Hossain aged above 60 died while undergoing treatment at the intensive care unit of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital this noon, our Narayanganj correspondent reports.

Accused Iqbal was a member of Hefajat and president of Khelafat Majlish's Sonargaon unit.

Subhash Kumar Ghosh, senior jail super at Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj, confirmed Iqbal's death and said he was admitted to the hospital on May 15. Earlier he was hospitalised several times, he added.

He also said, "Iqbal had been suffering from heart problems and stomach problems. After autopsy, the body will be handed over to his family."

Narayanganj District Prison's Jailer Mahbubul Alam said that Iqbal was sent to jail in connection with three cases, filed for violence, on April 12. In the meantime, he was taken in remand in the cases.  

After remand, he first fell ill on May 5 and was admitted to Narayanganj General Hospital that day. Later, on May 11, he fell sick again and was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital as per the doctors' advice, the official said.

From DMCH, he was referred to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, the jailer added.

"He had been suffering from various complications as he was above 60 years. For that reason, he was always kept under doctors' supervision at the prison," he said.

Iqbal's elder daughter Mahbuba Akhter said, "My father was sick before he was sent to jail. He had several old-age complications including diabetes. He took medicines regularly as per doctor's advice when he was at home.  But my father had been implicated in a false case."