A Dhaka court yesterday accepted charges against Zahidur Rahman Zahid, former sub-inspector of Mirpur police, and four others in a case filed over the torture and murder of Mahabubur Rahman Sujon, a garment-waste trader, in custody.
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court’s acting judge KM Imrul Kayes passed the order after scrutinising the charge sheet and fixed April 15 for indictment hearing in the case, lodged by Sujon’s wife Mamtaz Sultana Luchi.
The other accused are Assistant Sub-Inspector Raj Kumar, constables Asad and Rashidul Haque, and police informer Md Mithun.
Sujon’s wife filed the case on July 20 last year against 10 people including Mirpur police OC Salauddin Ahmed under section 15 of the Torture and Custodial Death Act, 2013.
After recording deposition of the complainant, the court ordered a judicial inquiry into the case. Metropolitan Magistrate SM Ashiqur Rahman submitted the charge sheet on October 30 but dropped the names of five other accused including OC Salauddin.
Zahid was arrested on July 17 last year and sent to jail on August 2 following 14-day remand in phases.
Mirpur police filed another case against eight including Zahid and informer Nasim on July 17. The Detective Branch of police is investigating the case.
When contacted, DB inspector Nibaran Chandra Barman yesterday said they would soon file the charge sheet under the Torture and Custodial Death Act, 2013.
According to the case, a police team led by Zahid and informer Nasim stormed Sujon’s house in Dhanmondi’s Shankar area early on July 13, and assaulted and tortured him in front of Luchi and their five-year-old son Rabbi for money.
Zahid also demanded Tk2 lakh as monthly subscription to avoid arrest. If they failed to pay the money, Zahid threatened him to implicate in a case for possessing illegal arms. He also kept a pistol and 10 bullets on a table.
Later, Sujon, his wife and their child were taken to Mirpur police station on a police van. Luchi was also assaulted on the van. Zahid then told someone, presumably the OC, over the walky-talky that he had arrested the “culprit” and tortured him. He also asked for further directives.
Informer Nasim in his confessional statement said Sujon had been tortured at the police station. The autopsy report also stated that the jhut trader had died of torture.