Human rights organisation Ain O Shalish Kendra (ASK) on Sunday strongly condemned the denial of parole to imprisoned Bagerhat Sadar Upazila Chhatra League president Jewel Hasan Saddam following the death of his wife and child, calling the decision a clear violation of the Constitution of Bangladesh and international human rights law.
In a statement, ASK said the incident has raised serious concerns about administrative arbitrariness, discriminatory conduct, and the erosion of the rule of law, particularly in the treatment of undertrial prisoners.
Saddam, who is currently detained at Jessore Prison, was reportedly permitted to see the bodies of his deceased wife and child for only five minutes at the prison gate. Despite a formal application submitted by his family to the Bagerhat district administration seeking parole on humanitarian grounds, the request was rejected, preventing him from attending their funeral and burial.
ASK emphasised that Saddam is an undertrial prisoner and, as such, remains entitled to full constitutional protections. Referring to Article 27 of the Constitution, the organisation noted that all citizens are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection, while Article 31 guarantees the right to seek protection from the law.
More critically, ASK cited Article 35(5) of the Constitution, which explicitly prohibits cruel, inhuman, or degrading punishment or treatment.
"Despite the extreme humanitarian circumstances surrounding the death of his wife and child, Saddam was treated in an inhuman and humiliating manner," the organisation said. "Denying him the opportunity to attend their funeral and burial and allowing him only a brief viewing of the bodies at the prison gate constitutes a direct violation of Article 35(5) of the Constitution."
ASK also pointed to the parole policy formulated by the Ministry of Home Affairs on June 1, 2016, which allows prisoners-regardless of status or category-to be released on parole for a specific period in the event of the death of close family members, including spouses and children.
