Mushtaq’s death was natural, says Home Minister

The death of writer Mushtaq Ahmed in prison was a natural one, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Thursday.
"Different probe bodies formed over his death gave the same opinion that his death was normal. They examined video footages, they talked to his jail mates and physicians concerned, and drew a conclusion from their opinion that it was a natural death," said the minister.

He came up with the remarks while talking to reporters at the secretariat.

The Home Ministry formed a five-member committee, Gazipur district administration and IG (prison) each formed two other committees to probe the death in jail, he said.

"We'll be able to inform you more once the postmortem report is available. He went to washroom and got fainted there. He was given treatment at the prison first and then taken to Shasheed Tajuddin Hospital for better treatment. In the autopsy report, no mark of injuries was found on Mushtaq's body,"

"We've revealed what we got primarily from the reports of the probe bodies. We'll inform you finally once we receive the postmortem report," he added.  

Writer Mushtaq reportedly suffered a heart attack inside his cell at Kashimpur Jail on Thursday last.

"He was rushed to Shaheed Tajuddin Medical College Hospital where he was declared brought dead," Senior Jail Superintendent Md Gias Uddin said.

An unnatural death case was filed with Sadar Police Station of the Gazipur Metropolitan Police in connection with Mushtaq's custodial death.

The 53-year-old writer, who published a book, "Kumir Chaasher Diary", under the pen name Michael Kumir Thakur, was picked up by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel from his Lalmatia home on May 2, allegedly for posts over the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.