‘Tortured by cops, framed in false case’
A former Union Parishad member has alleged of being tortured and implicated in a false case by police in Rajshahi's Mohonpur a week ago.
Sheikh Habiba, ex-member of Ghasigram UP, told a press conference at a city restaurant yesterday that she was dealt wrongly by police as she spoke against local lawmaker Ayeen Uddin.
Referring to the prime minister during the press conference, she said, "Apa, a great injustice was done to me. I want justice."
She said the lawmaker's men were threatening her and her family of dire consequences since she spoke against the MP in March.
According to media reports, she reportedly called the lawmaker a son of razakar.
On July 19, she went to Mohonpur Police Station with a neighbour for seeking police assistance in recovery of the latter's two-year-old child.
She said the OC and an ASI denied them help and the ASI told her that police couldn't help her as she had feud with the lawmaker.
The police officials talked to someone over the phone and a few moments later, one of the lawmaker's men went to the police station. The man asked police to teach her a lesson.
Then two policewomen and the on-duty officer beat and dragged her to another room and assaulted her.
She was then confined to the police station.
The next day, police sent her to the court, showing her arrested in two cases filed by one Doli Begum -- who came to the station with another of the MP's men -- over extortion.
"Both the cases are false," claimed Habiba.
Habiba's mother Mina Begum and husband Masud Rana were also present at the press conference.
Masud, a tea-stall owner, said they have been passing days in fear.
Asked about the allegations, the lawmaker from Rajshahi-3 constituency Ayeen Uddin said he was unaware of the incidents stated by Habiba. He said he was abroad during the stated time.
Contacted, Tawhidul Islam, OC of Mohonpur Police Station, denied the allegations of torture and denying assistance.
He said Habiba and her neighbour went to the police station about a feud between the couple over their two-year-old child. "We tried to settle the issue amicably," said the OC.
The OC claimed that Habiba started hurling abuses towards the police and insisted that the husband leaves the child with the wife, whom she brought into the police station.
He said Habiba was arrested for creating nuisance inside the police station and was later shown arrested in an extortion case on which a trial is currently ongoing.
"Habiba did not bring such allegations when she was produced before the court. Why is she doing so now?" asked the OC.
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