Dhaka, Jan 20 – Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Shafiqul Islam on Monday said that police cannot avoid responsibility if a suspect dies in its custody. He made the statement while talking to reporters after Bangladesh Police Service Association paid tribute at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in capital’s Dhanmondi area.
“We are inquiring the incident,” Shaiqul said added that “Initially; the incident was reported as suicide to me. However, police can’t deny responsibility,” he said.
Shafiqul said that a three-strong inquiry has been formed over the incident.
He also assured punitive actions against responsible officials of the force if the negligence of duty found.
Meanwhile, the colleagues of Abu Bakar Siddique Babu yesterday staged a demonstration in front of BFDC and demanded punishment of the involved police officials.
The protestors blocked the Hatirjheel to Karwan Bazar road.
On Sunday, Abu Bakar Siddique Babu, 45, a floor in-charge of Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC), also known as FDC, died in the custody of Tejgaon Industrial Area police station.
According to police, Babu was detained Saturday evening after a case was filed against him under the Digital Security Act.
Inspector Iftekhar Islam took Babu to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in an unconscious state after he tried to commit suicide. Later, the duty doctor declared him dead.
However, the doctor said that it was the case of brought dead.
Firoza Begum, Organizing secretary of the floor in-charge workers of BFDC and colleagues of Abu Bakar said that it was a planned murder. Police arrested him on Saturday but the case filed on Sunday against him.
“’Our words are the same; why did Abu Bakr die in police custody? Police staged drama after killing Abu Bakar. We demand punishment of the involved police officials,” she said.
On the incident day he met with us and returned home and later we heard about his death news, she added.
The protesters also said Police need the order to arrest government officials but this time they did not do such process. There is no scope to hang in police custody and there is also CCTV camera so how was it possible to commit suicide? They asked. Deceased’s wife Aleya Ferdousi suspected that Babu was “tortured and killed” at the police station. Police, however, denied the allegation and said Babu hanged himself.
Ali Hossain Khan, officer-in-charge (OC) of Tejgaon Industrial Police Station, on Sunday said that a woman filed a case against Babu for initiating a relationship with her with the promise of marriage and then posted some intimate photos on social media.
“After arresting Babu on Saturday night, we kept him in lockup. Around midnight, we found his body hanging — with his shirt tied to the iron bars. We immediately took him to DMCH where doctors declared him dead around 4 am,” the OC said.
“Babu’s suicide was even captured on CCTV footage. The claims about police torture are false,” said the police official. – Staff Reporter
