Outrage in Bangladesh after ex-minister seen handcuffed to hospital bed before death

Dhaka: Images showing former Bangladeshi Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun handcuffed to a hospital bed before his death have sparked widespread condemnation across the country, with rights groups and legal experts calling the treatment a violation of basic human dignity.

The veteran Awami League politician and former lawmaker, aged 75, died on September 29 while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), having earlier been held in custody at Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj.

Following his death, photographs showing him restrained to his hospital bed surfaced on social media, prompting a wave of public outrage. Rights campaigners described the images as emblematic of the state's disregard for humane treatment of detainees, especially those in critical condition.

Although prison authorities claimed the images were taken at an earlier stage of Humayun’s hospitalisation, critics say the act was wholly unjustified and in breach of legal and ethical standards.

“Keeping handcuffs on a dying or deceased person is inhuman and a stark violation of human rights. This will remain as an example of the most extreme breach of dignity,” said human rights activist Nur Khan Liton, speaking to The Business Standard.

Legal experts also highlighted a 2018 High Court ruling that forbade the indiscriminate use of restraints on detainees, particularly those who are ill or vulnerable. The ruling followed a petition filed by the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST).

Abu Obyaidur Rahman, a lawyer for BLAST, said the photos were a “clear breach” of the court’s directive.

“How can a 75-year-old sick man be considered a dangerous or escape-prone prisoner?” he asked.

Rights activist Abu Ahmed Faijul Kabir also condemned the treatment of the former minister.

“An 80-year-old man, gravely ill and at the verge of death — a freedom fighter and former minister of the country — being subjected to such inhuman treatment is not only against human values but also a grave failure of state responsibility,” he said.

Supreme Court lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua said the incident violated Article 27 of Bangladesh’s Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law and equal access to healthcare.

“This selective application of law is unacceptable. Justice must be equal for all. To see an elderly, ailing man treated in this way reflects the persistence of authoritarian practices,” he added.

The incident comes amid an intensifying crackdown on leaders of the formerly ruling Awami League, following the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power in August 2024. The transitional government, reportedly backed by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, has been accused of targeting political opponents through mass arrests and questionable legal proceedings.

A number of detained opposition figures have reportedly died in custody in recent months, further fuelling concerns over human rights and due process in the country.

IANS