Torture of 2 BCL men: DMP probe body gets 3 more days to submit report

The three-member probe body formed to investigate torture of two BCL men at Shahbagh Police Station allegedly by ADC Harun-or-Rashid and other law enforcers has been given three more days to complete their inquiry.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media and Public Relation) KN Roy Niyati of Dhaka Metropolitan Police confirmed the development yesterday.

Earlier in the day, the probe body sought seven days from the DMP Commissioner, said joint commissioner (operations) Biplob Kumar Sarker.

It would be the probe body's second deadline extension. The committee, led by Deputy Commissioner for Operations Abu Yusuf, was initially given a two-day deadline. It was later extended by five days after they failed to complete the report on time.

Meanwhile, sources within the probe body, seeking anonymity, said on Monday they had prepared a complete report and intended to submit it the next day (yesterday), but ultimately failed to do so.

They claimed to have recorded statements from all people related to the incident, including additional deputy police commissioners Harun-or-Rashid and Sanjida Afrin, president's Assistant Personal Secretary Azizul Haque, two injured BCL men, and staffers of Birdem Hospital. The committee also collected CCTV footage of the incidents.

The Daily Star couldn't contact them yesterday despite repeated attempts.

Asked about the repeated deadline extensions, JC Biplob said the probe committee can explain the matter. "DMP authorities will ensure the probe is done properly," he said.

Speaking with The Daily Star yesterday, Anwar Hossain Naeem, one of the injured BCL leaders, said the police probe body had taken his statement on September 13. He expressed his frustration at the prolonged delay in submitting the probe report.

"If they continue to delay and their report fails to adequately address the actual incident, we may consider filing a case," he added.

ADC Harun and other police officers allegedly took the BCL leaders to Shahbagh Police Station at 9:00pm on September 9 and tortured them for nearly an hour.

A week ago, DB Chief Harun Or Rashid alleged ADC Harun was assaulted first by the president's APS Azizul Haque at the Birdem Hospital that evening.

Azizul's wife, Sanjida Afrin, also an ADC of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, gave The Daily Star a similar account of the Birdem Hospital incident.