Writer Mushtaq Ahmed dies in Kashimpur Jail

GBNEWS24 DESK//

Writer Mushtaq Ahmed, who was arrested on charge of anti-state activities, died Thursday night inside Kashimpur Jail. He was 53.

He died at about 8:30pm.

Critically ill Mushtaq Ahmed had been in jail since May last year after his arrest amid coronavirus pandemic. He was arrested by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in a case filed with Ramna Police Station under the Digital Security Act.

Kashimpur Jail sources said Mushtaq fell in his prison after being unconscious. From there he was taken to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital in Gazipur where the doctors pronounced him dead.

Mushtaq Ahmed was arrested by RAB-3 personnel during the month of Ramadan and at about 3:15am on May 5, 2020 from his Lalmatia house in Dhaka. Besides, 10 others including a cartoonist and two journalists were also picked up from different places in the capital. They were charged with “spreading rumours and carrying out anti-government activities” under the Digital Security Act.

Mushtaq who writes under the pen name “Michael Kumir Thakur” was critical of the government’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis on social media.

He wrote a book titled “Kumir Chasher Diary” published in November 2018, and was working on another book.

Mushtaq who used to write under the pen name “Michael Kumir Thakur” was critical of the government’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis on social media.

He wrote a book titled “Kumir Chasher Diary” published in November 2018, and was working on another book.

Mushtaq was not released from jail as his bail prayers were rejected by lower courts as many as six times. As a result, he had to remain in jail.