Rubel Ahmed
Rubel Ahmed (died 5 September 2014) was a 26-year-old Bangladeshi immigrant to Britain, who died in Morton Hall immigration detention centre in controversial circumstances. His family called for an independent inquiry.[1]
Rubel Ahmed was the son of Abdul Jalil from Sangirai village, Bishwanath Upazila. He went to live in the United Kingdom in 2009. On 22 July 2014 he was taken from a restaurant in Kent by Immigration Enforcement officers, and held in detention.[2]
On the night of his death, according to other detainees at Morton Hall, Ahmed started complaining of chest pains at around 9.30pm. One detainee reported him "banging and kicking the door asking for help" for over an hour. However, he did not receive the medical attention he needed. An ambulance was called just after 11.30pm, by which time he was not breathing. On the arrival of the ambulance he was pronounced dead.[1]
Ahmed's death led to rioting at the detention centre, until police in riot gear restored order.[3] Ahmed's family only heard of his death after a fellow detainee contacted his solicitor the next day. The Home office informed them that he had committed suicide.[1] Ahmed's body was returned to his family in Bangladesh two weeks later.[4] Protestors in London demanded a full investigation into his death.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Diane Taylor, Call for inquiry into death at Morton Hall immigration detention centre, The Guardian, 7 September 2014.
- ^ Bangladeshi dies in UK immigration detention centre, The Daily Star, September 10, 2014. Accessed April 7, 2015.
- ^ Chris Green, Harmondsworth: Asylum seekers' hunger strike spreads to second centre, The Independent, 7 April 2015.
- ^ Sam Morris, Body of Rubel Ahmed, who died at Morton Hall Immigration Centre, returned to family in Bangladesh, Lincolnshire Echo, 22 September 2014. Accessed 7 April 2015.
- ^ Ansar Ahmed Ullah, London protesters demand full enquiry, March 8, 2015.
