A union parishad (UP) chairman detained by army personnel yesterday morning was declared dead at Moheshpur hospitalin the afternoon.

Abdus Sobhan, 50, chairman of Kazirber union parisad, was rushed to Moheshpur hospital as he suddenly fell sick during interrogation at the army camp, a police officer of Jhenidah said, adding that army men had arrested the UP chairman from a bus.

When contacted, on-duty doctor Tabibur Rhman said he felt the pulse of Abdus Sobhan immediately after he was brought to the hospital and found him dead. The body bore no marks of injuries, he added.

The detained UP chairman was suffering from blood pressure and he died of respiratory complications, said Lt Col Ehteshamul Huq when contacted.