President Mohammed Shahabuddin’s Assistant Private Secretary (APS) Azizul Haque Mamun had “earlier attacked” additional deputy commissioner Harun or Rashid, who was suspended over the torture of two Chhatra League leaders, DB chief Additional Police Commissioner Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid has said.
He disclosed this information while talking with journalists at a press conference in his office on Tuesday.
The DB chief said that the incident that led to the alleged torture of two Chhatra League leaders at Shahbagh police station started at Birdem Hospital.
“President’s APS Mamun had previously attacked the then in-service ADC Harun which should be mentioned in the probe report,” he said.
On Saturday night, two central leaders of Chhatra League were taken to Shahbagh police station and the then in-service additional deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ramna Division Harun or Rashid was accused of brutally torturing the two leaders.
The duo are Anwar Hossain Nayeem, Chhatra League central organizing secretary and president of the Dhaka University (DU) Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall unit, and Sharif Ahmed Munim, the central science affairs secretary and general secretary of DU Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Hall unit.
Meanwhile, DMP Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruq visited the injured Chhatra League leader Anwar Hossain Nayeem on Tuesday who is under treatment at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media and Public Relations) KN Roy Niyati, confirmed the information.
After leaving the hospital, the DMP commissioner told reporters that it is not possible to say who is guilty until the investigation is over.
“Two police officers have been identified. Actions have been taken against them. If proven guilty, departmental actions will be taken as well. Once the investigation committee submit probe reports, we can know who is at fault,” he added.
What actually happened?
Chhatra League leaders alleged that on that Saturday night, ADC Harun was chatting with a female police officer at Birdem Hospital.
At that time, the female officer's husband, also a government official, accompanied by the two Chhatra League leaders, arrived at the scene.
An altercation ensued between ADC Harun and the official. Later, Harun took the two Chhatra League leaders to Shahbagh police station, where they were allegedly tortured.
Following this incident, ADC Harun or Rashid was temporarily suspended, a notification signed by Senior Secretary Md Mostafizur Rahman, BPM, said on Monday.
The notification read that ADC Harun has been suspended following 39 (1) section of Government Service Law, 2018.
He has to be refrained from all government activities for public interest, said the notification.
Earlier, a three-member committee was formed on Monday afternoon to look into the allegation of torture.
The committee was also asked to submit its report within two working days.
The ADC was transferred to the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) on Sunday. Before that, he was withdrawn from his post and reassigned to the DMP's Public Order Management Division.
