Anti-Torture Act: UN official, US envoy hail ‘significant’ verdict

UN Resident Coordinator Mia Seppo has appreciated the first verdict under the Anti-Torture Act, saying it will pave the way for other victims to access justice.

"Significant 1st case under Anti-Torture Act which should pave the way for other victims and their families to access justice, and for further reforms to eradicate torture, extrajudicial killings and disappearances," she said in a tweet.

US Ambassador Earl R Miller, meanwhile, termed the verdict historic and significant.

"Historic and significant verdict with first sentencing under #Bangladesh Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act," he tweeted.

He said accountability for all persons is critical to any rule of law system and urged all saying, "Join UN in calling for end to torture, extrajudicial killings, and disappearances."

The comments came after a Dhaka court on September 9 sentenced three policemen including former sub-inspector of Pallabi Police Station, Jahidur Rahman, to life imprisonment and two other accused to seven years' jail in the case filed over the custodial death of Ishtiaque Hossain Jonny in 2014.

Judge KM Emrul Kayesh of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Dhaka passed the order. The court fined the three policemen Tk 1 lakh each, in default of which they will have to serve six more months in jail. It also fined two other accused Tk 20,000 each, in default of which they will have to serve three more months in prison.

Besides, the court asked the three police officers to pay Tk 2 lakh each to the plaintiff of the case as compensation. They will have to do so within 14 days, otherwise they will not be able to file appeal against the verdict with the High Court.

This is first verdict under the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act, 2013.

According to the case statement, a group of 25-26 policemen -- including SI Jahid -- raided a house during a wedding ceremony in Pallabi's Irani camp area and arrested Jonny on February 8, 2014.

Informer Sumon and two of his friends including Russell called police after Jonny slapped him for harassing women at a programme. Police allegedly tortured Jonny at the police station.

After Jonny fell sick the next day, he was admitted to a local clinic. Later, he was transferred to Suhrawardy Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

In August last year, UN Committee Against Torture expressed concern at the consistent reports alleging widespread and routine torture and ill-treatment by law enforcement officials for the purpose of obtaining confessions or to solicit the payment of bribes, the lack of publicly available information on these cases, and failure to ensure accountability for law enforcement agencies.