A man in Tangail has alleged that a senior police official tortured him over a false theft allegation and extorted Tk70,000 from his family for his release from police custody.
Although the incident took place in March, Md Farid Mia, a cleaner by profession, came up with the allegation at a press conference held in the Crime Reporters' Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) office in Dhaka on Saturday.
Farid said that Superintendent of Police (SP) Abdur Rahim Shah Chowdhury of Police Training Centre (PTC) in Tangail, is still threatening him in various ways as he lodged a written complaint with the Police Headquarters.
The SP threatened him with dire consequences, even implicating him in a drug case, he said.
Farid said he went to the SP's bungalow for the first time on March 13 and after work, he returned home around 1pm.
Three hours later, a constable called him on behalf of the SP to the bungalow.
As he went there again, the SP locked Farid in a room and beat him up, bringing the allegation that he stole Tk1 lakh from the house.
"Although I denied the allegation, SP Abdur Rahim continued beating me up."
The SP called Sub-Inspector (SI) Abul Bashar Molla who also interrogated and tortured Farid for hours.
Later, SI Bashar and another policeman took Farid to Mirzapur police station.
"At the police station, I was taken in a room where SI Bashar tortured me inhumanely. Hanging me up, I was beaten at the knees while my eyes and hands were tied up.
"Bashar told me that I was in a trap. Even if I did not take the money, I had to pay Tk1 lakh, otherwise, I would be killed."
Farid said he was taken to the lock-up later at the police station where his relatives came to see him.
"I told them to manage the amount of money to save me."
Farid suffered torture again on March 14 and the next day SI Bashar took him to the SP's bungalow from the police station, he said.
"SP Abdur Rahim released me when my relatives paid him Tk70,000."
Dhaka Tribune tried to reach the SP but his mobile phone was found switched off.