Number of custodial deaths has increased at an alarming rate in the country as 16 people died in 2019 under police custody, says a recent report.
According to the Ain O Salish Kendra report, families of the victims are being deprived of justice as, almost in all the cases, they had been intimated after filing cases over the custodial death.
As a result, the report mentions, the victims’ families are deserting the hope of seeking justice.
On the other hand, divisional police investigative committee has been formed which has taken action against many accused police personnel, says police headquarters.
The accused policemen are being punished by transferring them, postponement of their promotion and by demoting them.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said, “Recently, the allegations of custodial deaths taking place in the capital’s police stations have been raised. Instructions have been given to investigate the matter. Proper steps will be taken once the investigation report is submitted.”
Assistant Inspector General of Police Headquarters (media) Sohel Rana said, “Death in custody can be due to various reasons. As allegations of torture have arose, so too are instances of death due to illness. Regardless of the cause of death in police custody, if negligence or crime of related police personnel is proved, appropriate action will be taken against him or her.”
An accused, Abu Bakkar Siddique Babu, 35, was killed in the custody of Tejgaon Industrial Area police station on January 19.
Police say that the accused committed suicide by hanging himself by a sheet from the jail grills.
However, Babu's colleagues don’t believe he committed suicide.
Babu served as the floor in-charge of the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC).
A woman filed a case against him in the Digital Security and Women Abuse Act. He was arrested for the same case on January 18.
His FDC colleagues staged a rally demanding justice for Babu's death. A four-member investigation committee has been constituted by the police to investigate the incident.
According to the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act-2013, anyone can lodge complaint in court if someone falls victim of torture.
If convicted of physical and mental torture, there is a minimum sentence of five years imprisonment or a fine of Tk 50,000. In addition, torture can result in life imprisonment or can be fined. But there is no application of this law.
In this regard, Executive Director of Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) Shipa Hafiza said that the government should give legal protection to those seeking justice in the case of torture deaths.
“Our law enforcers should do the bear minimum of what they are supposed to do. Why would they go ahead and kill people? It is but a violation of human rights. The government should give proper protection to those seeking justice,” she added.
