Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) have locked horns over the alleged torture of a college student Inzamamul Islam Zishan, who was earlier detained for allegedly murdering his classmate's younger brother Ayaz Huq, by Dhanmondi police station.
Meanwhile, DMP authorities and Shahidul Huq, the father of the late Ayaz, slammed National Human Right Commission Chairman Dr Mizanur Rahman and the media yesterday for favouring the alleged killer and Special Branch (SB) DIG Mosharaf Hossain, one of Zishan’s uncles, for pressurising the DMP authorities and using his influence at the Dhaka Central Jail and Dhaka Medical College Hospital to aid the convict.
At the press briefing, held at DMP Media Centre on Minto Road, the authorities denied allegations of custodial torture on Zishan as reported by the media on July 23, where Zishan's family members alleged that he was tortured inhumanely and forced to give a confessional statement before a magistrate.
Joint Commissioner (DB) Monirul Islam, who is also the DMP spokesperson, claimed that media reports regarding the issue were flawed and unethical.
Replying to a query, he expressed doubts on whether the NHRC chairman had proper information regarding the case before making a statement.
At the same time, Shahidul Huq blasted the NHRC chairman by saying: “It was my son who was killed, but the NHRC chairman showed his sympathy for my son's killer. He never visited my house or even asked me about the incident.”
He also claimed that a respective journalist, who happens to be a maternal uncle of the convict, had been using his influence over the media to promote fabricated reports.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, DIG Mosharraf Hossain denied the allegations against him and said he never approached anybody at the jail, DMCH and or even the Dhanmondi police.
Instead, Mosharraf, who is also the editor of police magazine – Detective, alleged: "Not only did Dhanmondi police torture my nephew brutally, but they also allowed Ayaz’s relatives to torture Zishan in custody."
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, several police officials at the DMP as well as Dhanmondi Police Station claimed DIG Mosharraf had tried to influence the police and his activities were captured by CCTV cameras installed at the police station.
The briefing was also attended by Joint Commissioner (Crimes and Operations) Meer Rezaul Alam and Deputy Commissioner (Media Centre) Masudur Rahman.
