Family demands capital punishment

Family members of Shamim Sarkar, allegedly tortured to death in police custody in Savar on Thursday, demanded capital punishment for those involved.
Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, Shamim's brother Amin Sarker said, “It should be ensured that the accused do not get out through legal loopholes.”
A Dhaka court yesterday granted a five-day remand for the prime accused, Akidul Islam, assistant sub-inspector of Savar Police Station, who was arrested from the capital's Gabtoli on Friday night.
“Akidul was absconding since the incident,” said Savar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mostafa Kamal.
Police also formed two three-member committees to investigate the incident, informed Dhaka Superintendent of Police Habibur Rahman yesterday.
Five policemen were accused in a murder case filed by Amin with Savar Police Station.
The remaining four -- Ashulia Police Station sub-inspector Emdadul Islam and Savar police constables Ramjan, Mofazzal and Yousuf -- surrendered on Thursday and were taken on a five-day remand.
The five and another Savar sub-inspector, Sajjad Hossain, were suspended in this connection.
Shamim, a 30-year-old land broker, was tortured after plainclothes police picked him and his nephew Sohel, 28, up from Hemayetpur on Wednesday around 10:30pm, said Shamim's family.
Hours later, Shamim's body was found in Old Dhaka's Mitford Hospital and a magistrate's inquest report found injury marks on different body parts.
Amin requested the recovery of three mobiles phone and Tk 20,000 taken from Shamim and Sohel by the five.
“The phones and the money could not be recovered yet,” said Inspector Aminur Rahman, the case's investigation officer.