Faridpur law student dies in DB custody

A law student died yesterday while in the custody of
the Detective Branch (DB) of police in Madhukhali upazila, Faridpur.
Mirza Ishtiaq Ahmed Pranto, 27, a student of Faridpur
Law College, was picked up from in front of his house by DB officers on
Saturday evening. His family alleged he was tortured following the arrest,
while police denied the claim.
His relatives said a team of 12–13 DB personnel
arrived in a microbus around 5:00pm, assaulted Ishtiaq in front of his mother,
searched the house, and behaved rudely when she tried to intervene.
When asked about Ishtiaq’s political affiliation, his
uncle Mithu Mollah said, “He was free to support any political party, but no
one has the right to kill him for his ideology.”
The family said they spent the night searching for him
through Madhukhali Police Station and the Faridpur DB office, only learning of
his death when Faridpur Medical College Hospital contacted them yesterday
morning.
His mother, Khadija Akter, said no narcotics were
found during the search, though police later claimed cannabis was recovered.
“My innocent and healthy son was taken away and tortured
to death in DB custody. I want justice,” she said.
Faridpur DB Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Alamgir Hossain
rejected the allegation, saying Ishtiaq was detained with 100 grams of cannabis
and brought to the DB office around 3:00am yesterday.
“He offered Fajr prayers, had breakfast, and soon
after fell ill. He was first taken to Faridpur General Hospital and then to
Faridpur Medical College Hospital, where he died around 8:00am while undergoing
treatment.”
He said officers treated Ishtiaq “politely and cordially”.
Faridpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Nazrul Islam
gave a similar account. “We have initially learned that he may have died due to
a brain haemorrhage. We have also confirmed that there were no injury marks on
his body. No assault or mistreatment took place while he was in police
custody.”
The SP added that an internal inquiry would be
conducted into the incident.
Faridpur Medical College Hospital Ward Master Md Atiar
Rahman said that members of the DB police brought Ishtiaq to the hospital around
6:00am yesterday. “He died while undergoing treatment at 7:57am. A CT scan of
his head revealed a cerebral haemorrhage.”
Asked whether there were any injury marks on Ishtiaq’s
body, Atiar Rahman said, “I personally saw the body and found no visible signs
of injury.”
Madhukhali Police Station OC Sukdeb Roy said a case
under the Narcotics Control Act was filed against Ishtiaq by DB Sub-Inspector
Ahaduzzaman.
Police sources said the DB operation was led by
Sub-Inspector (SI) Md Ahaduzzaman and SI Md Motahar Ali, with Assistant
Sub-Inspector (ASI) Md Hajikul Islam, constables Moniruzzaman, Farhad Hossain
Mia, Rakibul Islam and female constable Champa Haldar also participating. The
vehicle was driven by Md Sabuj Molla.
ASK CONDEMS
Meanwhile, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) in a statement
yesterday expressed deep concern and said the death of a young man in state
custody raises serious questions in the public mind.
“State custody must never become a place that
endangers life. Rather, protecting the right to life is a fundamental
responsibility of the state,” said the rights organisation.
It added that, as a signatory to various international
human rights instruments, Bangladesh is responsible for ensuring the safety and
lives of people in custody.
ASK called for an impartial judicial investigation to
determine the actual cause of death and demanded the release of CCTV footage,
security for the victim’s family, legal assistance, and accountability for
those responsible.
















