Photo: Collected
Following the death of a Jatitabadi Jubodal leader in custody of security forces in Cumilla, the Bangladesh Army has immediately withdrawn the commander of the concerned camp and pledged to take legal action against those found guilty as per military laws. The matter was confirmed through a statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) today.
According to the statement, at around 3am yesterday, "based on specific allegations, a joint forces operation led to the arrest of Md Touhidur Rahman (40) from the Adarsha Sadar Upazila of Cumilla. Later, at around 12:30pm on the same day, he passed away at Cumilla Medical College Hospital."
It said that necessary steps have been taken to properly investigate this unfortunate and tragic incident. Additionally, a high-level investigation committee has been formed to determine the exact cause of death, added the statement.
Meanwhile, another statement issued today by the Chief Adviser's (CA) Press Wing said the interim government, led by CA Prof Muhammad Yunus, absolutely condemns any form of custodial torture and murder and has ordered an urgent investigation into the death.
Touhid's brother Abul Kalam said that at around 2:30am Friday, three army vehicles and a red-coloured car came to their house at Italla village under Panchthubi union in Cumilla Sadar. They took Touhid, who was the convener of the Panchthubi unit of the BNP youth wing, claiming that he had weapons in his possession, Kalam said.
"My brother never had any weapon. Everyone in the community knows him well. Despite our repeated requests, they [security forces] took him away," he added.
Kalam said the Kotowali Police Station later informed them at around 12:30pm that Touhid was "rescued from a place near Gomti Bilash on the bank of Gomti River and that he is now in the hospital".
He further said, "We found him dead at Cumilla Medical College Hospital. His whole body bore marks of merciless beatings."
Touhid, who also worked as a shipping agent employee at the Chattogram Port, had gone home to attend his father's Qulkhani, an Islamic ritual usually observed on the fourth day after the burial of a Muslim to pray for the salvation of the departed soul.
"My father passed away four days ago. We were mourning him," said Kalam.
According to a Prothom Alo report, Touhid left behind a wife and four daughters. Citing Cumilla Police's Additional Superintendent (Sadar Circle) Mohammad Saiful Malik, the report also stated that Touhid was not accused in any case.
The CA Press Wing statement said upholding human rights in every sphere of national life is a core mission of this government, which includes some of the top rights activists in the country. The government has set up several commissions to reform the country's criminal justice system. Most of these commissions have submitted their reports.
The interim government will hold meaningful dialogue with the political parties over these reports in an effort to eradicate every opportunity for human rights abuses in police interrogation, crime management, and judicial procedure, according to the statement.
The interim government is committed to implementing these reforms, it added.
Messenger/JRTarek
