Rayhan murder: Investigation extended for a month

A Sylhet court has extended the investigation period by 30 working days for the case filed over the custodial death of Rayhan Ahmed. 

Sylhet Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Abdul Momin gave the order after holding a hearing on Sunday.

The Police Bureau of Investigation's (PBI) Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Khaleduzzaman confirmed the matter on Thursday.

He said the investigation was at the final stage, and PBI was working to submit a flawless probe report.

Public Prosecutor (PP) Advocate Nowshad Ahmed Chowdury said as Rayhan murder was a high-profile case, they were making sure there were no loopholes in the investigation.

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According to sources, police have yet to arrest journalist Abdullah Al Noman, who along with Sub Inspector (SI) Hasan Ali destroyed evidence in the case.

So far, SI Hasan Ali and five other policemen, including SI Akbar, have been arrested in connection to this case.

On October 11, 34-year-old Rayhan, a resident of Akhalia in Sylhet city, was beaten to death in police custody at Bandar Bazar police outpost.

The next day, Rayhan's wife Tahmina Akhter Tanni filed a case under the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act 2013 with Sylhet Kotwali police station.

The case was then transferred to Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) following the family's demand.

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A forensic medical board of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College and Hospital, in its second autopsy report, said Rayhan had died due to injuries he sustained from a blunt weapon.

In the first autopsy report, the doctors found 111 injury marks on Rayhan's body. Of them, 14 were serious injuries.

A probe body of Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) also found the truth of the torture.

SI Akbar, the then in-charge of Bandar Bazar police outpost, and three police personnel were suspended on October 12 while three others were also withdrawn from the outpost.

Akbar fled from police custody on October 13 and was arrested at the Dona border in the northeastern district's Kanaighat upazila on November 9.