The wife of former Jubo Dal leader Asif Sikder has demanded an independent and impartial investigation into his death while in the custody of law enforcement. Meghla, the wife of the deceased, made this demand at a press conference held Thursday at the Sagar-Runi Hall of the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity.
She also called for those involved in her husband’s death to be identified and brought under the law as soon as possible.
Recalling the events of the day, Meghla said, “At Around 2:30am on July 21, members of a joint force came to our home. They locked Asif in a room and tortured him for two and a half hours.”
Meghla alleged that her husband was given electric shocks after being tortured. At one point, when he was critically injured, members of the joint force took him away.
At the press conference, Meghla said, “Later, when Asif’s family went to the army camp, they were told that Asif had been handed over to Shah Ali Police Station.”
“When they reached the police station, they found Asif lying unconscious on the verandah. As his condition worsened, police hurriedly put him in a vehicle and took him to the hospital. The on-duty doctor declared him dead there.”
Asif’s family alleges that he died as a result of torture in the custody of the joint force.
DMP’s Public Relations Officer Talebur Rahman told Times of Bangladesh, “Asif was brought to Shah Ali Police Station and from there, the police took him to the hospital. Asif died at the hospital.”
He added that he had no further information on the matter.
Meghla told Times of Bangladesh, “The joint force that came during the operation found nothing illegal in Asif’s home. Yet he was brutally tortured.”
Times of Bangladesh tried to contact Mirpur Zone’s Deputy Police Commissioner Maksudur Rahman by phone for comment. A text message was also sent later, but no response was received.
Additional Deputy Police Commissioner Saleh Mohammad Zakaria was also unable to comment on the allegation.
Asif’s wife said, “Asif’s killing is not just an extrajudicial murder – it is a gross violation of the ideals of a democratic state and human rights.”
She added that such killings are reminiscent of fascist times.
Following the death of Jubo Dal leader Asif Sikder at Shah Ali Police Station lock-up on July 23, a case has been filed against 11 people, including Mirpur’s Deputy Police Commissioner (DC) Maksudur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the station Md. Shariful Islam, and Major Mudabbir.