Two inmates die in separate incidents in Gazipur prisons

Two inmates have died in separate incidents at prisons in Gazipur, officials have confirmed. 

One inmate died at Gazipur District Jail, while the other passed away at Kashimpur Central Jail-1 in the early hours of Tuesday.

The deceased from Gazipur District Jail has been identified as Omar Faruq (33), son of Alamgir Hossain from Bir Ujali village in Tokh union of Kapasia upazila. He was serving a two-year prison sentence. 

The other inmate, Dulal Uddin (52), son of Mohin Uddin from Kendua village in Tokh union of Kapasia upazila, was serving a life sentence for murder at Kashimpur Central Jail-1.

According to prison officials, Omar Faruq was convicted in 2019 in a case filed at Kapasia police station. He was also facing a second case for allegedly assaulting a prison officer.

Gazipur district jail sources say Faruq was found attempting suicide by hanging himself with a blanket tied to the cell bars in the wee hours of Tuesday. 

Prison guards intervened and provided initial medical treatment before transferring him to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital, where on duty doctors declared him dead. His death has been classified as "sudden death" in the medical certificate.

Records indicate that in a case filed in 2019 Faruq was sentenced to two years in prison and fined Tk5,000, with an additional two months of imprisonment for non-payment. 

He had been in custody since 25 January this year and was accused of attacking sergeant instructor Faiz Uddin inside the jail on 29 January, which led to an additional case being filed against him with Gazipur Sadar Police Station.

Gazipur District Jail Super Rafiqul Quader confirmed the incident, stating that an unnatural death case has been registered.

Dulal's death in Kashimpur 

At Kashimpur Central Jail-1, Dulal Uddin complained of chest pain at 11pm on Monday. He was transferred to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The jailer of the central jail Md Tarikul Islam confirmed Dulal Uddin's death and said, "Dulal, a life-term convict in a murder case, had been suffering from cancer and had received medical treatment in Dhaka several times."

He added, "He was last transferred to Kashimpur Central Jail-1 on 18 January. On Monday night, after experiencing severe chest pain, he was initially treated at the prison hospital before being transferred to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital, where he died."

Regarding the two deaths in prisons, Gazipur Additional District Magistrate Salma Akhter said, "Post-mortem examinations would be conducted. If required, an investigation committee would be formed to determine the circumstances surrounding both deaths and that further legal action would be taken accordingly."

Investigation committees formed

The authorities of the two jails have separately formed three-member investigation committees regarding the inmates' deaths. 

The committees have been instructed to submit their investigation reports within three working days.