Two citizens die in DB custody; ASK calls for judicial probe
According to ASK records, at least 15 citizens have died in custody across Bangladesh between January and 22 November 2025.
Two citizens, Moktar Hossain and Shahadat Hossain, died on Friday (21 November) while in the custody of the Detective Branch (DB) police in Dhaka and Sirajganj districts.
The Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) expressed serious concern over the incidents in a press statement today (23 November), describing them as violations of both national and international human rights standards.
ASK emphasised that ensuring the safety of individuals in state custody is the constitutional and legal responsibility of law enforcement agencies. Custodial deaths, the organisation said, highlight urgent concerns over accountability, institutional weaknesses, and adherence to Bangladesh's human rights obligations.
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According to ASK records, between January 2025 and 22 November 2025, at least 15 citizens have died while in the custody of various police stations, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), and the DB nationwide. Each case, the organisation noted, reflects systemic failures and the pressing need for rigorous oversight.
ASK has demanded independent, impartial, and judicial investigations into all custodial deaths, calling for legal accountability for those responsible. The organisation also urged authorities to ensure the protection of victims' families, uphold their right to justice, and provide access to legal support.
"Every death in state custody is a grave violation of the constitutional right to life under Article 32 and fundamental international human rights principles," ASK stated, urging immediate measures to prevent further loss of life in custody.
Shahadat Hossain, 45, an auto-rickshaw driver and suspect in a murder case in Sirajganj's Ullapara upazila, died around 3:30pm on Friday while undergoing treatment at Sirajganj General Hospital, after being detained by the DB.
Moktar Hossain, 40, died while in DB custody in Dhaka who had been detained on Thursday evening in connection with the 17 November murder of Golam Kibria, a Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal leader, in Pallabi.
