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Bangladeshi Migrant Found Dead In Athens Police Custody

Deceased Khalis Mia || Photo: Collected

Deceased Khalis Mia || Photo: Collected

A Bangladeshi migrant has reportedly died in a police station in Athens, Greece, with authorities claiming it was a suicide. The deceased, Khalis Mia (29), was from the Chhatak upazila in Sunamganj district, and his father’s name is Jalal Uddin.

According to expatriates, Khalis was detained by police on the night of September 30, following a trivial incident in the Omonia area of Athens. The next morning, he was found hanging in the police cell, which also held 11 other inmates.

Omonia police stated that the young man was arrested for fighting while intoxicated and placed in a cell. The following morning, officers discovered him hanging.

Anwar Hossain Dewan, president of the Bangladesh Community in Greece, reported that he, along with a local lawyer and community leaders, went to the police station to inquire about the incident. Police informed them that Khalis was arrested for a fight in the Patiya Vathis area.

He mentioned that as they entered the station, Khalis kicked the car door and broke a police vehicle’s window. Due to his intoxication, police took him directly to the cell without any questioning, and he was found dead the next morning.

The Bangladeshi embassy in Athens and various immigration organizations have called for a thorough investigation into the incident. Local newspapers have also reported that a Bangladeshi migrant died by hanging in the police station, according to police statements.

Greek police have confirmed that the case has been referred to the prosecutor in Athens. A medical examiner and a unit from the criminal department have visited the scene to investigate.

Petros Konstantinou, director of the immigration organization ‘Kerefars’ and a councilor in the Athens municipality, stated that migrants and asylum seekers are facing police violence amid various incidents in Greece. Khalis Mia died just an hour and a half after his arrest, leading them to believe he died due to violence.

Konstantinou also demanded a change in the investigating officer, saying that initially, police claimed Khalis had vandalized their vehicle. When they requested to see the vehicle, they were told he only broke a mirror. "Does a broken mirror justify taking a migrant's life?" he questioned.

Nahida Rahman Sumana, Bangladesh's ambassador to Greece, stated that authorities have not formally informed them yet. They have sought detailed information from the officials and have contacted the deceased’s family. If the family agrees, they will appoint a lawyer to seek justice in this case.

Meanwhile, the Bangladeshi community in Greece, along with the Bangladesh Expatriate Rights Council and the Kerefars immigration organization, has called for a protest on October 12 against Khalis Mia's death.

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