Human Rights Concerns Rise After Former Bangladesh Minister Dies Handcuffed to Hospital Bed

Prison authorities have maintained that the circulating images were taken during an earlier phase of his hospitalization.

Dhaka:

Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus administration faces severe criticism over human rights concerns following the death of prominent Awami League official Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun. The 75-year-old former Industries Minister in Sheikh Hasina's government passed away while receiving medical treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Following his death, social media exploded with images showing Humayun handcuffed to his hospital bed, sparking widespread indignation among rights advocates and legal professionals.

Humayun had been incarcerated after being arrested on charges related to murder and vandalism during the 2024 student-led demonstrations in Bangladesh.

Official Response

Prison officials have consistently stated that the controversial images were captured during an earlier period of his hospital stay. In their Wednesday statement, jail authorities emphasized that they consistently uphold their responsibility to protect all inmates' human rights and dignity, with Humayun's case being no exception.

Public Backlash

Legal experts and human rights defenders have characterized the situation as a severe violation of human dignity.

"Restraining a dying or deceased person with handcuffs represents inhumane treatment and a clear human rights violation. This incident will stand as an example of the most extreme dignity violation," stated Nur Khan Liton, a human rights activist, in comments to The Business Standard, a leading Bangladeshi newspaper.

The controversy has reignited discussion about a 2018 High Court ruling issued in response to a petition from the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), which directed authorities to avoid indiscriminate handcuffing of detainees and exercise appropriate discretion in such matters.

Advocate Abu Obyaidur Rahman, who represented BLAST in the case, described the viral photos as a "clear breach" of the court's directive, questioning, "How can a 75-year-old sick man be categorized as a dangerous or escape-prone prisoner?"

Rights advocate Abu Ahmed Faijul Kabir also condemned the incident as a "grave failure of the state."

"Subjecting an 80-year-old man who is seriously ill and near death—a freedom fighter and former government minister—to such inhumane treatment contradicts human values and represents a serious failure of state responsibility," he declared.

Broader Political Context

This incident occurs amid the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government's intensified campaign against Awami League leaders and supporters following former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's removal from power in August 2024.

Numerous opposition figures have subsequently been imprisoned on charges that critics claim are fabricated, with several reportedly dying while in custody.