Another addict died in Chittagong on Wednesday allegedly from severe injuries after he was beaten at a rehabilitation centre, three days after he was admitted there.
Police said Director Jahangir Alam of Somoy Drug Rehabilitation Centre, located in the city’s Agrabad area, beat the victim, Sujit Dhar, 40, with iron rods, hitting him repeatedly on the head and body on Monday night when Sujit demanded drug shots.
The next morning, after being notified by the rehab staff about his injuries, Sujit’s family took him to a private clinic, where he died.
Sujit’s brother Ajit Dutta filed a case with the Double Mooring police station on Wednesday night in this connection.
Police sent Sujit’s body to the Chittagong Medical College post-mortem, and later handed the body over to his family members, said Hasanuzzaman Molla, assistant commissioner at the Double Mooring Circle of Chittagong Metropolitan Police.
His family took Sujits body to their village in Lohagora, Narail for burial.
Police raided the rehabilitation centre but found no one. The Dhaka Tribune also visited the rehab and found iron rods and shackles in all the rooms. The windows were locked, and a putrid smell hung in the air.
The rehab was established in a rented house in 2005. Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, the owner of the property said the rehab’s director as well as staff members fled after Sujit died.
Rakib Amin, a neighbour, said Jahangir used to beat his patients most of the times.
On October 31, another addict named Nizam Uddin was found dead in a rehab in the city. His family claimed he was tortured to death.
Ekram Hossain, director of the Department of Narcotics Control Chittagong metro region, said Somoy Rehabilitation Centre was a registered facility and was shut down by the director after the incident.
Chowdhury Imrul Hasan, superintendent inspector at DNC Chittagong metro region, said rehabilitation was supposed to be motivation-driven treatment, not torture-based.
“We are looking into the recent death of two drug addicts at two rehab centres. If they are found guilty, their licences will be cancelled,” he said.
