The government has punished former Kurigram deputy commissioner Sultana Parveen suspending her salary increment for the next two years over the illegal arrest, torture and punishment of Ariful Islam, Kurigram district correspondent of Dhaka Tribune.
The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification in this regard recently.
The ministry also sentenced the other accused in the incident.
Also Read - Illegal torture, jailing of journo Ariful: Probe body begins interrogation
Assistant Commissioner Rahatul Islam's increment has been postponed for the next three years, while RDC Nazim Uddin has been demoted.
Besides, the ministry has decided to dismiss Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Rintu Bikash Chakma from government service.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) has also agreed to the decision.
The decision is now awaiting approval of the Prime Minister’s Office.
Also Read - Kurigram journo Ariful sues former DC Sultana, RDC Nazim
Earlier the Ministry of Public Administration formed a probe committee to interrogate all involved parties in the incident.
The three-member probe body, led by Joint Secretary Amena Begum, began their investigation on September 2, 2020.
On March 14 last year, a mobile court of Kurigram district administration, led by the three assistant commissioners, convicted and sentenced Ariful, the Kurigram correspondent of Dhaka Tribune and Bangla Tribune, to a year’s imprisonment, after he was arrested from his home, on charges of possession of narcotics.
Earlier the same night, Ariful and his family members were about to go to sleep when some Ansar members, accompanied by Nazim Uddin, Rintu Bikash Chakma and Rahatul Islam, broke into their home and subjected Ariful to beatings and torture. Later at around 1:30am, Ariful was sent to jail.
