District Awami League cultural secretary dies in Pabna prison custody

Popular 90s singer Prolay Chaki (60) has died in prison custody in Pabna. He was the cultural secretary of the banned district Awami League. He died on Sunday while undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. The family claims that he was suffering from heart disease and diabetes. He died due to lack of proper treatment in prison.

Prolay Chaki was arrested from his house in Dilalpur Mohalla of Pabna city on December 16 last year. He was later shown arrested in an explosive case.

According to district prison sources, Prolay Chaki fell ill in prison on Friday morning and was admitted to Pabna General Hospital. Later, when his condition deteriorated there, he was taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. He died there while undergoing treatment.

Prolay Chaki's son Soni Chaki alleged that there was no case against his father. He was harassed. Although his physical condition deteriorated in prison, they were not informed at first. He died due to lack of proper treatment in prison.

However, Jail Superintendent Omar Faruk denied the allegations. He said that Prolay Chaki had been ill for a long time. He was regularly given medicine according to his medical certificate. As soon as he became seriously ill, he was sent to the hospital for advanced treatment.

Prolay Chaki was a popular singer and music director of the nineties. He was regularly conducting music at the Banamali Shilpakala Kendra in Pabna. Mohammad Habibullah, general secretary of the Banamali Shilpakala Kendra, said, "Prolay Chaki was a dedicated cultural activist and artist outside of politics. We are saddened by his death."

Bhaskar Chowdhury, secretary of the Pabna Sammilit Sangskritik Jote, said, "We cannot accept that he will die like this. This death is really painful."

Meanwhile, after the autopsy at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on Monday afternoon, his body was brought to Pabna in the afternoon. On hearing the news of his death, well-wishers rushed to his house to pay their respects to the grieving family. His last rites were performed at the Pabna Maha Crematorium in the evening.

Various social and cultural organizations including Bangladesh Hindu Mahajot Pabna District Branch, Hindu Yuva Mahajot, Hindu Chhatra Jote, Bangladesh Hindu, Buddhist, Christian Unity Council Pabna District Branch, Ravidas Sampraday, Sri Sri Pabna Maha Crematorium Committee, Pabna Musical Bands Association expressed their condolences on his death.