Writ seeks investigation into 13 imprisoned BNP leaders' death

A writ petition has been filed seeking international standard investigation and compensation to the families of the 13 imprisoned BNP leaders who died in prison in the past few months. 

BNP Legal Affairs Secretary Barrister Kaiser Kamal confirmed this information on Sunday. 

He said that the hearing could take place at the High Court bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Atabullah. 

Earlier on Friday, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi claimed in a press conference at Naya Paltan that torture in prisons is to blame for the death of 13 party leaders in the last three months. 

He said the news of the death of some BNP leaders and activists who are victims of brutal torture in custody is surfacing frequently. “Prison cells have been turned into concentration camps.”

“Overenthusiastic officials have become icons of terror like the Gestapo. Inside each prison, inmates are deprived of all the facilities provided by prison law and subjected to brutal oppression,” he said.

“No treatment is being provided. By employing former Chhatra League hooligans as jail officials, Sheikh Hasina has propelled them to oppress BNP leaders and activists inside the prison as well. They violate human rights every moment.”

Rizvi called for immediate unconditional release through the withdrawal of “false cases” filed against BNP activists.