No proof of murder, but probe report finds mismanagement

The judicial committee formed to inquire into the death of Advocate Palash Kumar Roy in Panchagarh Prison Hospital has not found any proof of murder, but has found some mismanagement and irregularities in the hospital.

Palash -- a lawyer of Dhaka Bar Association -- who was in Panchagarh jail in connection with a defamation case, allegedly set himself on fire on April 26 at the prison hospital. He died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s burn unit on April 30.

The judicial committee formed by the High Court in May, handed over its probe report to the HC last month through its registrar’s office, and the report was produced before the HC during hearing of a writ petition yesterday.

After going through the probe report, the HC bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Md Badruzzaman said “apparently, this is a case of suicide” and asked the office concerned to send the probe report to the home secretary and inspector general of prisons.

The bench also ordered the home secretary and inspector general of prisons to submit their statements over the probe report to the court by October 15.

Earlier in the day, writ petitioner Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman read out from some parts of the probe report saying there was unabated use of gas lighters in Panchagarh prison; there was no fire extinguisher, close circuit television (CCTV) camera and jail superintendent; a diploma nurse was discharging the duties of a doctor; and a murder case accused was working at the surgical department of the prison hospital.

The writ petitioner also said it took 24 hours, after Palash Roy set himself on fire, to arrange his treatment.

Following the writ petition, the HC on May 8 this year formed the judicial committee, led by the chief judicial magistrate of Panchagarh, to inquire into the death of Advocate Palash Kumar Roy.

The court asked the committee to submit the report before it in 30 days and also issued a rule asking authorities concerned of the government to explain why their failure to give protection to Palash inside the jail should not be declared illegal.

Deputy Attorney General Bipul Baghmar represented the state.