Mizanur Rahman Monir, a member of the Patuakhali District Awami League widely known as Monir Khan, has died after spending nearly two months in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He passed away at 3:25 pm on Wednesday in the ICU of the hospital’s old Burn Unit.
His death comes after a prolonged period of hospitalisation that also drew widespread public attention when a photograph showing him lying critically ill in an ICU bed with handcuffs on one hand circulated across social media. The image triggered intense debate over the treatment of seriously ill prisoners, raising questions about human rights, medical ethics and custodial security practices.
A resident of Bahalgachhia village in Patuakhali Sadar Upazila, Mizanur Rahman was the son of the late Abdul Khalek Khan. During his political career, he held several influential positions within the Awami League and its affiliated organisations. He previously served as Vice Chairman of Patuakhali Sadar Upazila Parishad and was the former General Secretary of the now-banned Sadar Upazila Jubo League. He also served as Organising Secretary of the Patuakhali District Jubo League, a former member of the District Chhatra League, a member of the District Awami League and Vice-President of the Bangladesh Rural Development and Cooperative Federation.
According to family members, he went into hiding following the political changeover on 5 August 2024. He was later arrested by Detective Branch (DB) police from the Minto Road area of Dhaka on 14 September of the same year. Authorities subsequently filed eight criminal cases against him—six in Dhaka and two in Patuakhali Sadar Upazila.
His relatives claim that although he secured bail in several of those cases, he remained in custody because he was repeatedly shown arrested in other pending cases. As a result, he spent approximately 11 months in prison without being released.
His nephew, Siraj Munshi, said Mizanur Rahman suffered a haemorrhagic stroke caused by bleeding in the brain on 9 June while in prison. As his condition deteriorated, prison authorities arranged for his transfer to the ICU of Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s old Burn Unit. Despite receiving continuous intensive treatment and close medical supervision, his health failed to improve significantly.
The family said that on 30 July the court granted him bail in the final remaining case against him. By then, however, his condition had become so critical that he could not be discharged from hospital. Although the legal barriers to his release had been removed, his medical condition left him confined to intensive care until his death.
The controversy surrounding his treatment intensified after the viral circulation of a photograph showing him wearing handcuffs while receiving life-support treatment in the ICU. The image sparked renewed public discussion over whether restraining an unconscious or critically ill detainee is appropriate, particularly when medical professionals are focused on providing emergency care.
His wife, Salma Jahan, Chairman of Kalikapur Union Parishad in Patuakhali Sadar Upazila and Organising Secretary of the District Krishak League, alleged that her husband remained handcuffed for nearly a month after being admitted to the ICU. She said he lost his memory within two days of hospitalisation and was no longer able to recognise family members. Over time, his condition worsened, eventually leaving him paralysed.
According to Salma Jahan, police officers removed the handcuffs only after doctors informed them that the chances of his recovery were extremely slim. By then, she said, his health had deteriorated beyond the point where meaningful recovery was possible.
Last week, Mizanur Rahman’s mother, Matoara Begum, was seen weeping outside the ICU after witnessing her son’s condition. She told relatives that he no longer recognised her, underscoring the devastating impact of his illness on the family.
His uncle, Abdul Kalam Azad, said funeral prayers will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday at a field in Patuakhali Sadar Upazila. He will later be laid to rest in the family’s ancestral graveyard in his home village.
Beyond the death of a political figure, the case has reignited broader debate in Bangladesh over the treatment of prisoners with life-threatening illnesses. The prolonged use of handcuffs on an ICU patient has prompted renewed scrutiny of custodial procedures, balancing security concerns with humanitarian obligations, and the ethical responsibilities of authorities when detainees require critical medical care. While family members have voiced strong objections to how Mizanur Rahman was treated, any official response from the relevant authorities regarding the use of restraints has not been included in the available information.
