Death in custody: Case filed against 11 including police officials

A case has been filed in the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court against 11 individuals, including senior police officials, over the alleged custodial death of Asif Shikdar.

Swapna Begum, mother of the deceased, lodged the case today (23 July) in the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Zakir Hossain Galib.

The court accepted the case and instructed a higher authority to investigate the matter.

Those accused include Mohammad Maqsudur Rahman, deputy commissioner of police, Mirpur division; Shariful Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Shah Ali Police Station; Zakaria, additional deputy commissioner of police, Darus Salam Zone; and Emdadul Haque, assistant commissioner of Darus Salam Police Station.

The other accused are Matiur Rahman, OC (Investigation) of Shah Ali Police Station; Major Mudabbir; Captain Tammam; Senior Warrant Officer Siraj; Abul Kalam Azad Lenin; Forma Khalil; and CNG Farid.

Syed Nazrul Islam, counsel for the plaintiff, confirmed the development.

"The court has accepted the case and directed that an investigation be carried out by any higher authority," he said.

In the case statement, the plaintiff alleged that on Monday (21 July) a little after midnight, individuals identifying themselves as the OC of Shah Ali Police Station forcibly entered their home.

Around 2am, 25 to 30 members of the joint forces, including personnel from the police, army, and RAB, ransacked the house.

When her son Asif Shikdar asked for an explanation, he was allegedly subjected to inhuman torture, including slaps and blows, handcuffed, and taken to the police station.

Later, at the time of Fajr prayer, the family was informed that Asif's clothes had been soiled with faeces and urine, and new clothes were needed.

When the plaintiff attempted to visit her son, she claimed they were threatened with death. Around 11am, the family found out from some sources that Asif had died due to torture in custody.