Staff Reporter :
In a landmark judgment, the High Court has upheld life imprisonment for two former police officers and reduced the sentence of another in Bangladesh’s first-ever case under the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act, 2013.
The verdict, delivered on Monday by the bench of Justice SM Kuddus Zaman and Justice AKM Rabiul Hassan, comes in connection with the 2014 custodial death of garment-waste trader Ishtiaque Hossain Jony in Dhaka’s Pallabi. The court maintained the life sentences for former Sub-Inspector Zahidur Rahman and former ASI Kamruzzaman, while reducing former ASI Rashedul Hasan’s sentence to 10 years. One other accused was acquitted.
On February 8, 2014, Jony, 28, attended a wedding at Block B, Section 11, Irani Camp in Pallabi.
Police informer Suman allegedly harassed female guests, prompting protests from Jony and his younger brother, Imtiaz Hossain Rocky.
Later that night, acting on Suman’s call, a 25-26-member police team – including Zahidur Rahman, Rashedul Hasan, and Kamruzzaman – raided the venue.
Witnesses said police vandalised the premises and detained both brothers.
The prosecution said Jony and Rocky were tortured in custody.
Jony’s condition worsened the following day; he was taken to a clinic and later to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Rocky filed a case on August 7, 2014, under the then newly enacted 2013 law.
A judicial probe in February 2015 recommended charges against five accused and the acquittal of five others.
On September 9, 2020, the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court sentenced Zahidur Rahman, Rashedul Hasan, and Kamruzzaman to life imprisonment, fined them Tk 100,000 each, and ordered Tk 200,000 in compensation to Jony’s family.
Police informers Suman and Rasel were given seven years’ imprisonment and fined Tk 20,000 each. Kamruzzaman has been absconding since the trial began; Suman has already served his sentence.
The HC reviewed testimonies from 24 witnesses during hearings that began on July 9 this year. Senior lawyers SM Shahjahan and Md Abdur Razzak appeared for the accused, while Deputy Attorney General Badiuzzaman Tapadar represented the state and SM Rezaul Karim acted for the plaintiff.
