SI Akbar sentenced to death

A court in Sylhet has sentenced dismissed Sub-Inspector Akbar Hossain Bhuiyan to death in the case over the killing of Raihan, who died after being tortured at a police outpost. Dismissed Sub-Inspectors Harun or Rashid and Titu Chandra Das have been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Judge Abdul Majid Munshi of the Sylhet Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court announced the verdict on Thursday. Advocate Mohammad Mominul Islam Momin, public prosecutor at the metropolitan court, confirmed the information.

On the night of 10 October 2020, Raihan Ahmed was taken to the Bandarbazar outpost of Sylhet Metropolitan Police and tortured. He died the next day, 11 October. Raihan’s wife filed a case over the incident under the law on death in police custody. The investigation later found the torture allegation to be true.

The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) submitted the charge sheet to the court on 5 May 2021, accusing six people, including SI Akbar.

The verdict was announced in the afternoon after a lengthy hearing. In the verdict, Assistant Sub-Inspector Hasan, Ashek Elahi and the media worker Noman were each sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment.

When the verdict was announced, Ashek Elahi, a police member and the only accused in custody, was present in court. The other five are absconding.