[Bangla Daily Star] Another Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) man died yesterday at the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) raising the death toll to 54 in separate incidents since the mutiny on February 25-26.The deceased, Rezaul Karim, 45, a havilder of Rifles Battalion-44 at Pilkhana, was an accused in the BDR mutiny case. He was undergoing treatment at the BSMMU under jail custody since November 24 and died in the morning.
His family members alleged that tortures during remand period caused his illness that led to his death.
Talking to The Daily Star at the morgue, Liton Fakir, nephew of Rezaul, said the body of Rezaul bore several injury marks at different parts.
"After the remand period, I met with my maternal uncle and found him grievously ill," Liton said.
"I was severely tortured during interrogation and I will survive no more," Rezaul was quoted as saying by Liton.
Family members said Rezaul fled from Pilkhana on February 26 and later joined his work. He was arrested in connection with the mutiny case.
On the death of Rezaul due to torture in custody, BDR Director General (DG) Maj Gen M Mainul Islam told The Daily Star that he had no information about torture on him during custody.
Meanwhile, Shimul Kanti Barua of around 40, a cook of BDR training school at Satkania in Chittagong, died at Pilkhana BDR hospital in the capital yesterday.
BDR officials said he came to Dhaka from Chittagong with fever on October 15 this year. Later, he was detected with lung cancer at Cancer Hospital and sent to BDR hospital on December 5.