The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) in Chittagong has launched an investigation in response to allegations that a bench assistant at the court hid a summon order for former Anti Corruption Commission official Sayed Mohammad Shahidullah, who had passed away while in police custody.
A one-member committee has been formed to investigate the allegations. The committee has been asked to submit a report in three days.
Meanwhile, Harun Ur Rashid, the accused bench assistant at Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate-6 Court, has been transferred to the position of cashier, said Abul Kalam Azad, the nazir of CMM Court.
Acting Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) of Chittagong Jewel Dev ordered the transfer, he added.
Azad said the court had summoned the former ACC official, but that order never reached him. As he failed to follow the court order, the court later issued an arrest warrant against him, Azad said.
"If the summon was not issued, it should be in the case file. It is the bench assistant's responsibility to ensure this information. Failure to issue it implies withholding. Such matters should have been reported to the court. A bench assistant cannot evade responsibility,” Abul Kalam Azad, the nazir of CMM Court said.
On October 5, two assistant sub-inspectors of Chandgaon police station in Chittagong were withdrawn in connection with the death of former ACC official Sayed Mohammad Shahidullah.
The two police officers are Md Yousuf Ali and Md ATM Sohel Rana.
A police team, led by the two ASIs, arrested Shahidullah, 64, and took him to Chandgaon police station on Tuesday night.
He was taken into custody based on a warrant issued in a case alleging threats and defamation.
Later, while inside the officer-in-charge’s room at Chandgaon police station, Shahidullah started experiencing discomfort. His younger brother, who was with him at the time, provided Shahidullah with an inhaler as he was having a heart attack.
When his condition deteriorated, the police transported Shahidullah to the private Parkview Hospital, following requests from the younger brother. After reaching the hospital, the doctors declared him dead.
Meanwhile, Shahidullah's family expressed distress to the media, alleging that Shahidullah was subjected to harsh treatment during his arrest.
Shahidullah lived with his family in his ancestral home in the Mahuri Bari area under Chandgaon thana.
He last served as deputy director at the Chittagong Integrated District Office-2 of the ACC. He retired on July 12, 2007.
CMP probe body
The Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) had formed a probe body over the incident.
The probe committee is led by the deputy police commissioner of the CMP north zone. Additional deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner of the special branch of CMP are the members.
The committee was tasked to submit a report within three working days. However, they asked for more time.
Deputy Police Commissioner of Detective Branch (North) Nihad Adnan Taian said: "We have requested an additional three working days for the investigation. The deadline is Wednesday. We aim to submit the investigation report within this timeframe."
