Family members of deceased Uzir Mia, who was picked up from his house at dead of the night on February 9, have alleged that some members of Shantiganj Police Station in Sunamganj picked him on the night and tortured him in police custody. A day later, he was arrested in a theft case and was produced before the court. On the same day, he was released on bail from the court. After bringing him home, the family members saw signs of torture all over his body.
According to family members, Uzir Mia was later taken to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital after his physical condition deteriorated. After receiving treatment there for five days his physical condition improved a bit and he was brought back home. But his physical condition worsened again on Monday morning and he was taken to a local hospital where doctors on duty declared him dead.
Banessa Begum, 65, the grieving mother of Uzir Mia, while lamenting her son’s death said, “My son was in a very critical condition when he was brought back home. He told me crying and saying, “Mother, the police have beaten me mercilessly. They said I would live just one more week. So you can see me for only one week. Take care of me only this week, because I won’t live much longer.”
This was the scene at Uzir Mia’s house in Shatrumardan village of Shantiganj upazila in Sunamganj on Tuesday afternoon. Uzir Mia’s wife Shafia Begum has been bedridden since the death of her husband. Uzir Mia, 40, died on Monday at noon. He used to run a small business in the area. He once lived in Saudi Arabia.
It is to be noted that like other incidents, the district administration and police of sunamganj formed two separate committees to investigate the death of Uzir Mia. Additional district magistrate Anwar-ul Halim will head the committee formed by the district administration, while additional police super (crime) Abu Sayeed will lead the probe committee formed by the district police.
Meanwhile, Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF), Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) and Bangladesh National Women Lawyers’ Association (BNWLA), in separate statements strongly condemned the incident and demanded proper compensation for the family of the victim. They also demanded a fair and impartial trial, divisional investigation and exemplary punishment for those police personnel involved in the incident.
We expect that a court should take notice of torture in police custody and death that followed. It is not a matter of departmental investigation only. The sadly death is a murder by police — protector of life.
