AS AN inquest into the death in detention of a young migrant starts today, his family and friends hope the process will help improve conditions in deportation centres.

Rubel Ahmed was found hanging in his room at Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre in September after having been told he would be deported to Bangladesh.

The 24-year-old had been held under “austere” conditions at ther former prison, often locked in his room for long periods.

Mr Ahmed’s cousin Aktarun Miah said: “We hope that lessons may be learnt so that another family can be spared what we have had to endure.”

Legal support charity Inquest has worked with Mr Ahmed’s family in the search for clarity over the circumstances of his death.

The group’s co-director Deborah Coles said: “Rubel’s experience is sadly not unique.

“There have been a number of reports documenting the impact of immigration detention on a detainee’s mental and physical wellbeing with detrimental results.”