A local leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party died in police custody at Jessore Central Jail on Monday night, reports UNB. The deceased was identified as Badiur Rahman, 46, BNP vice-president of Bagharpara Municipality unit and son of late Abdul Goni Shikdar, a resident of Bagharpara upazila headquarters.

Doctor Kajal Mallik, medical officer of Jessore General Hospital, told UNB that the jail authorities rushed Badiur to the hospital around 11:30pmwhere an on-duty doctor declared him dead.

However, jailer of Jessore Central Jail Abu Taleb claimed that the BNP leader died of "a massive heart attack" while undergoing treatment at Jessore General Hospital on Monday night.

In a press conference at Jessore Press Clubon Tuesday afternoon Syed Saberul Haque Sabu, general secretary of Jessore district unit BNP alleged that Badiur died "due to negligence of jail authorities".

Countering the jail authorities' narrative, he questioned why no-one had informed Badiur's family that he had fallen sick. Three BNP leaders have died at Jessore Central Jail during the incumbent Awami League rule, he noted.

Earlier on August 25 of the year, law enforcers arrested Badiur from his business outlet at Bagharpara in connection with a violence case filed against him and 45 others of the BNP district unit.