Professor Shahriar Kabir Suffers Second Heart Attack in Custody; Family Alleges Negligence

Staff Reporter

Professor Shahriar Kabir, writer, journalist, and human rights activist, has suffered a second heart attack while in custody, his family said. The president of the Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee was arrested last September in connection with two murder cases filed at Jatrabari Police Station for allegedly ordering the shooting of protesters during anti-government demonstrations last year.

His family claims he has not received adequate medical care. Kabir, who has been using a wheelchair for a long time, is now reportedly paralyzed and in critical condition. They also allege that prison authorities have been uncooperative, leaving them without updates on his current condition.

During a court hearing on October 20 last year, he raised concerns about his health, telling the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court, “I cannot walk without a wheelchair. I need proper medical treatment. I have been sick for four months. I am not receiving proper treatment at Kashimpur Prison. I suffer from multiple illnesses. If you could inform the police superintendent, it would help.”

According to the case against him, on July 18 last year, a protester named Rafiqul Islam was shot dead near Monowara Hospital in Jatrabari. His body was buried the next day through Anjuman Mufidul after being taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

During a hearing, state prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi said, “Shahriar Kabir is a named suspect in the case. Under his direction, protesters were shot, leading to injuries and the death of Rafiqul Islam in Jatrabari. He is an atheist and has spoken against Muslims. Atheists support the Awami League, and the Awami League supports them. He is directly involved in this killing.”

Kabir’s defense lawyer, Sri Prananath, countered, saying, “There are no specific allegations against my client. He is a teacher and a columnist who has spent his life in academia. Unfortunately, he has faced imprisonment before and is now in jail again. He has heart disease, diabetes, and a metal rod in his leg. He is a sick man.”

In 2001, during the BNP-Jamaat government, Shahriar Kabir was arrested for his critical opinions. Amnesty International later declared him a “prisoner of conscience.”