Bangladesh Hindu politician dies in custody

DHAKA: Renowned Hindu musician and senior Awami League functionary Proloy Chaki has died in police custody in Bangladesh, with his family members accusing the prison administration of denying necessary medical care to the 60-year-old and rubbishing police's claim that it was a "natural death", reports Ahsan Tasnim.

Proloy - held in a blast case linked to the 2024 anti-discrimination student movement that grew into the 'July Uprising' and led to Sheikh Hasina's ouster as PM - died on Sunday night. The cultural affairs secretary of the party's Pabna unit, Proloy was picked up by police from his house in Pabna's Dilalpur on Dec 16 and later shown as arrested.


Son: Proloy Chaki arrested in Bangladesh without any case
Proloy Chaki’s death comes at a time when Bangladesh is in the grip of relentless violence against minorities, particularly Hindus, and groups, parties and institutions aligned with Awami League. Seven Hindus have died and properties of minorities targeted by arsonists since the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh on Dec 18. Pabna jail superintendent Md Omar Faruk said Proloy had been suffering from multiple health complications, including diabetes and heart disease.

“He suffered a cardiac arrest and was first taken to Pabna General Hospital on Friday. Later, as his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where he died around 9 pm on Sunday,” Omar said, adding that “it is a natural death”. Proloy’s son Sony Chaki said, “My father was arrested despite not being named in any case at the time. He had been suffering from diabetes and heart disease for a long time. His condition worsened in jail, but authorities did not officially inform us.” “We rushed to the hospital after being informed by others, but he did not get proper treatment, which led to his death,” he said.

Jail superintendent Omar has rejected the charges. Besides political identity, Pabna Sammilito Shangskritik Jote secretary Bhaskar Chowdhury said, “Proloy was a renowned singer and music director. He had also served as secretary of Shree Shree Ram Krishna Shebashrom.” Proloy was a prominent cultural activist of the 1990s, he said.
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