HC asks police to record journo’s case against former Kurigram DC

The High Court today directed police to immediately record a case from journalist Ariful Islam against former Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Sultana Pervin, three of her colleagues and concerned Ansar personnel, on charges of torturing and attempting to kill him.

The HC also stayed, for six months, the proceedings of the case filed by the mobile court against Ariful and its order that convicted and sentenced him in connection with the case.

Besides, the court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government, former DC Sultana, Senior Assistant Commissioner Nazim Uddin, and Assistant Commissioners Rintu Bikash Chakma and SM Rahatul Islam to explain in four weeks why the mobile court action against Ariful should not be declared illegal.

The HC bench of Justice Md Ashraful Kamal and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir came up with the order and rule challenging the legality of the mobile court action following a writ petition filed by journalist Ariful, who was released on bail.

On March 14, a mobile court of Kurigram district administration, led by the three assistant commissioners, convicted and sentenced Ariful to one-year imprisonment after he was arrested from his home on charges of possessing narcotics, claimed Ariful's lawyer Advocate Ishrat Hasan.

Earlier in the same night, Ariful and his family members were about to go to sleep when some Ansar members, accompanied by assistant commissioners Nazim Uddin, Rintu Bikash Chakma and Rahatul Islam, stormed into their home and tortured Ariful.

Later around 1:30am on March 14, Ariful was sent to jail.

The action against Ariful was conducted allegedly at the direction of the then-DC Sultana Pervin, the journalist's lawyer added.

The taskforce did it as Ariful wrote against alleged corruption by the district administration including DC Sultana, Advocate Ishrat said, citing the writ petition.

The lawyer said Ariful, after receiving bail on March 15, went to Kurigram Sadar Police Station to file a case against then-DC Sultana Pervin, three magistrates Nazim Uddin, Rintu Bikash Chakma and Rahatul Islam and the Ansar personnel for torturing and attempting to kill him.

But the police refused to record the case, she said, adding that the HC yesterday ordered the officer in charge of Kurigram Sadar Police Station to record the case of Ariful.

Advocate Ishrat said Sultana Pervin and magistrates Nazim Uddin, Rintu Bikash Chakma and SM Rahatul Islam have been withdrawn from Kurigram.