Bangladesh Faces Outcry Over Sheikh Hasina's Aide Handcuffed Before Death

The death of Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, a 75-year-old former industries minister under ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has ignited widespread condemnation in Bangladesh after viral images surfaced showing him handcuffed to a hospital bed. Humayun, a senior Awami League leader and freedom fighter, passed away at Dhaka Medical College Hospital while in custody, arrested earlier for alleged murder and vandalism linked to 2024 student-led protests. The incident, amid the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government's aggressive pursuit of Hasina-era officials, has drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates for breaching dignity and legal standards.

Prison authorities defended the images as outdated, from an initial hospitalisation phase, insisting in a Wednesday statement that they uphold inmates' rights without exception. However, the photos—depicting Humayun restrained despite his frail condition—sparked fury on social media and beyond. Human rights activist Nur Khan Liton labelled the treatment "inhuman", telling The Business Standard it exemplified an "extreme breach of dignity", especially for a dying individual. Fellow activist Abu Ahmed Faijul Kabir called it a "grave failure of state responsibility", questioning how an elderly, ill former minister could be deemed a flight risk.

The controversy echoes a 2018 High Court ruling, prompted by the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), which prohibited indiscriminate handcuffing of detainees. BLAST's advocate Abu Obyaidur Rahman decried the images as a "clear breach", asking, "How can a 75-year-old sick man be considered a dangerous or escape-prone prisoner?" This ruling aimed to curb routine humiliations in custody, yet critics argue it remains unenforced, highlighting systemic lapses in prisoner welfare.

Also Read: Zelenskyy Accuses Russia of Deliberately Threatening Nuclear Facilities

The episode unfolds against the Yunus administration's post-Hasina crackdown, launched after her August 2024 ouster amid deadly protests that killed over 300. Dozens of Awami League figures face jail on charges opponents call politically motivated, with several custody deaths fuelling fears of targeted retribution. Yunus, sworn in as chief adviser, has vowed accountability for Hasina's 15-year rule—marked by corruption allegations and authoritarianism—but faces accusations of mirroring past excesses. International observers, including Amnesty International, have urged probes into custodial abuses, stressing Bangladesh's obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture.

As Bangladesh transitions toward elections by late 2025, Humayun's case underscores tensions between justice and vengeance. Awami League remnants decry a witch hunt, while Yunus allies defend it as an essential reckoning. With over 10,000 arrests since August, the interim government's legitimacy hinges on balancing retribution with rights, lest it erode public trust in a nation still healing from upheaval.

Also Read: Congress Flags Poor Governance of ICDS Despite Mission Saksham Rebrand