Family says Awami League leader, singer Proloy Chaki was denied medical care

Sixty-year-old Proloy Chaki, a renowned singer, music director, and cultural secretary of the banned Pabna district Awami League, died while under treatment in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on Sunday night, his family has alleged, blaming prison authorities for medical negligence.

According to family members, Chaki—who suffered from heart disease and diabetes—collapsed in Pabna Central Jail on Friday morning. He was first taken to Pabna General Hospital, then referred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for advanced care. He passed away around 9 p.m. on Sunday while still receiving treatment.

His son, Sunny Chaki, accused jail officials of failing to provide timely and adequate medical attention. “My father was already a heart patient. Even after suffering a heart attack, he was not given proper treatment. We were not even informed when he was admitted to hospital,” Sunny said.

“Despite medical advice restricting physical exertion, he was forced to perform various tasks inside the jail. His death is the direct result of negligence and lack of proper medical care by the prison authorities. We demand a thorough investigation and justice.”

Chaki’s brother Moloy Chaki echoed the claim, stating that after the heart attack, Chaki was not kept at Pabna General Hospital but transferred to Rajshahi, where he was allegedly left on the floor of the CCU ward for several hours before receiving attention. “Proper treatment could have saved him,” Moloy said.

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Pabna Central Jail Superintendent Md. Omar Faruque rejected the allegations of neglect. “Proloy Chaki had been suffering from diabetes and age-related complications for a long time. He received regular medication as per medical prescriptions. As soon as his condition deteriorated on Friday morning, he was immediately shifted to Pabna General Hospital and then to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for better treatment. The charge of medical negligence is not correct,” he told reporters.

Chaki was arrested from his home in Pathartala area of Pabna town on December 16, 2024, by the district Detective Branch (DB) police and shown arrested in an explosives case related to alleged violence during the anti-discrimination student movement. Family members insist he was not named in the FIR and was living openly at home despite advice to relocate for safety.

A prominent figure in Pabna’s cultural scene since the 1990s, Proloy Chaki—along with his brother Moloy—was widely known for performances on BTV magazine shows such as “Jodi Kichu Mone Na Karen” and “Itihaas.” He regularly directed music at Pabna’s Bonamali Shilpakala Kendra and was celebrated for his contributions to local music and cultural activities.

The news of his death cast a pall of mourning over Pabna’s cultural community. Prof. Md. Habibullah, general secretary of Bonamali Shilpakala Kendra, described Chaki as “a dedicated cultural worker and artist beyond politics.” “His death is unacceptable. Culture and music were embedded in his very being. This void can never be filled,” he said.

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Bhaskar Chowdhury, general secretary of Pabna Sammilito Sangskritik Jote, added: “We cannot accept that he died like this. It is truly heartbreaking.”

According to the Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) annual report, 107 people died in custody across Bangladesh in 2025—up from 65 in 2024—raising renewed questions about prison healthcare standards.

Chaki’s mortal remains were brought to his residence on Monday, drawing large crowds of relatives, cultural activists, and ordinary citizens. His last rites were performed at Pabna cremation ground in the evening.

Prominent figures, including singers Tapan Chowdhury, Kumar Bishwajit, Dinat Jahan Munni, Bappa Mazumder, Kabir Bakul, and BNP leader Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, expressed profound grief over his passing.

The incident has reignited debate over the treatment of detainees—particularly those linked to the Awami League—under the interim administration. Family and cultural colleagues have demanded an independent probe into the circumstances of Chaki’s death and accountability for any lapses in medical care.