Bangladesh News

Yet another BDR jawan died in custody yesterday.

Havilder Kazi Saidur Rahman, 46, of 13 Battalion, arrested in connection with the February 25-26 BDR carnage, was the 13th jawan to die in custody.

Meanwhile, 73 BDR men, 48 from Kushtia and 25 from Netrakona, were taken to the BDR headquarters yesterday for quizzing in connection with the carnage that left 75 people dead.

Besides, 20 more BDR men were placed on a seven-day remand each while one BDR jawan confessed his involvement in the carnage to a magistrate.

BDR Director General Maj Gen Mainul Islam told The Daily Star, “Saidur died of cardiac arrest as part of the will of the Creator [The Almighty]. However, the autopsy report will confirm the cause of the death.”

Meanwhile, Saidur’s relative Kamruzzaman alleged that he died due to torture as several injury marks were found on his legs and knees.

Saidur’s wife Sheeuly Begum over telephone said, “I talked to my husband on April 5 and he said he was well.”

She said her husband was present during the carnage but fled the BDR headquarters. He later joined the BDR headquarters.

Hailing from Dhuliha village under Harinakundu upazila in Jhenidah district, Saidur Rahman joined BDR in 1981.

Asked about the injury marks, the DG said, “The mutineers used different ways to flee…they had to jump over walls and overcome various obstacles. Those might be the injuries sustained during the escape.”

A press release issued by BDR public relation officer yesterday said Saidur felt chest pain around 1:00am yesterday. He was taken to the hospital at BDR headquarters around 3:00am. When his condition deteriorated, he was moved to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) around 4:00am where doctors on duty declared him dead at 4:30am.

However, in the register of the deceased at DMCH it is mentioned that Latif, a ward boy of the BDR hospital, brought Saidur dead at DMCH around 4:30am.

According to sources, a total of 13 BDR men died in custody since March 9 and of them seven reportedly committed suicide and six died of cardiac arrest.

Meanwhile, Sepoy Zakir Hossain confessed to his involvement in the BDR carnage before a magistrate. So far, 37 BDR men have confessed before magistrates.

About the 73 BDR men taken to Pilkhana yesterday, Maj Gen Mainul Islam told The Daily Star that they were present at Pilkhana during the carnage but later fled.

“They were asked to join the BDR headquarters. But they joined elsewhere. They should be quizzed,” the DG said.