Mysterious Death of Teacher in Police Custody: Poison in Inhaler, Officers Suspended

Firoza Ashrafi (28), a senior lecturer in the Global Studies and Governance department at Independent University, has died after consuming poison while in police custody at Bhatara Police Station in Dhaka. She passed away while undergoing treatment in the hospital. Police claim that she purposefully consumed the poison at the police station, having acquired it online with the intention of committing suicide. However, questions remain as to how poison reached a detained woman while she was in police custody.

In connection with the incident, a sub-inspector and two female constables have been temporarily suspended for dereliction of duty. Additionally, the police have arrested two transgender individuals, including a field officer from the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST).

According to the police, Ashrafi's husband, Elias Kamal Risad, is an assistant professor in the Social Science and Humanities department at the same university. Although they married last March, their relationship was strained due to family issues. Police stated that on July 7, Ashrafi acquired chemical poison online. On the night of July 9, she went to her husband's residence in Pallabi, drugged him unconscious, and then cut his genitals. Afterward, she herself took Risad to Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.

The following day, on the morning of July 10, when Risad's relatives surrounded Ashrafi at the hospital, she called 999 for police assistance. The same afternoon, at the request of Pallabi Police Station, Bhatara Police Station detained her and placed her in the Women and Children Support Cell. At that time, Ashrafi had her phone with her and was not handcuffed. Police noted that this allowed her to receive items from outside.

Police reported that after being detained, Ashrafi contacted Mahapara, BLAST's Chief Program Specialist. She requested them to bring her inhaler. Later, Shobha, a BLAST field officer, and her assistant Kona, brought a bag from Ashrafi's residence to the police station. At 6:45 PM, when the bag was handed to Ashrafi, she claimed she was taking medicine and consumed the poison from the bag. According to the police station's account, even though it was an inhaler, the poison was delivered to Firoza Ashrafi through it.

Police further stated that despite pregnant female constable Nasima and Sharmin sensing the smell of poison and snatching the bottle, Ashrafi had already consumed it. She was immediately taken to Kurmitola General Hospital. After being transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, she passed away on the evening of July 11.

Bhatara Police Station OC Rakibul Hasan told The Daily Campus, "Firoza Ashrafi ordered the poison online; we have her courier information. We are certain that she committed suicide in a planned manner." However, he admitted, "As a PhD researcher and teacher, Ashrafi was cunning. We were slow to understand her plan. Perhaps our female constables were not strict due to showing her excessive respect as a teacher."

In this incident, Duty Officer SI Jamal Hossain and two female constables, Sharmin and pregnant Nasima, have been immediately suspended and attached to the Rajarbagh Police Lines for dereliction of duty. Additionally, police have filed a case of abetment to suicide against BLAST field officer Shobha and her assistant Kona for allegedly delivering the poison to Ashrafi.

Investigation Officer SI Md. Ariful Islam stated, "Preliminary evidence of the allegations against them has been found. The matter is under further investigation."

According to police and case information, Risad had a previous marriage; his ex-wife lives in Canada. Ashrafi also had a prior marriage. Neither family accepted their relationship. Furthermore, marital disputes and quarrels frequently arose due to allegations of Risad's multiple relationships.

On the night of July 9, Ashrafi went to her husband's house under the pretext of showing research papers and incapacitated him by mixing sleeping pills in his tea. She then cut the unconscious Risad's genitals. Risad regained consciousness around 3:30 AM, found himself injured, and Ashrafi then took him to the hospital.

Police stated that Ashrafi had been in contact with BLAST for legal advice for a long time. It was through this connection that she arranged for the poison to be brought to her at the police station via BLAST staff. BLAST has not yet issued any official statement on this matter. Repeated calls to their head office were disconnected after the caller identified themselves as a journalist.