2 Ctg cops suspended over ex-ACC official's death in custody

The Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) has suspended two policemen in connection with the death of former Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) deputy director Syed Mohammad Shahidullah while in custody of Chandgaon police on Wednesday.

An order of the CMP signed by Additional Commissioner MA Masud suspended assistant sub-inspectors (ASI) Md Yusuf Ali and ATM Sohel Rana of Chandgaon police station.

CMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (Public Relations) Spina Rani Pramanik told The Business Standard that two ASIs were attached to Dampara Police Lines for the purpose of investigation.

The CMP formed a three-member committee to investigate whether there was any violation of rules in the arrest of the former ACC officer.

The inquiry committee has been directed to submit the inquiry report within three days.

Earlier on Tuesday night, the two ASIs brought Shahidullah to the police station from his home in Ek Kilometer area of Bahaddarhat in Chattogram city.

Shahidullah's son Nafis Shahid told TBS, "ASIs Yusuf and Sohail brought my father to the police station from our home. The collapsible gate of the police station was closed after taking him in.

"He is a heart patient. They did not even let us give him his heart medicine and inhaler. The police misbehaved with him. There his condition deteriorated and he died. Later, when he was taken to Parkview Hospital, the doctors on duty said our father had died before being brought to the hospital."

"My father was treated like this in a planned way by the police," Nafis Shahid also told TBS.

According to the information of Chandgaon police station, a woman filed a case with the Chattogram court accusing Shahidullah of committing criminal intimidation. The court issued a warrant for his arrest on 1 October.

Shahidullah's brother-in-law Mohammad Qaishar Anwar told TBS, "A woman named Roni Akhter Tania filed a case against me and my brother-in-law Shahidullah with the court. According to the case statement, the woman used to work at my brother-in-law's house and owed him Tk6,000. But we do not know any woman by this name and she never worked at my sister's house either. My brother-in-law filed two cases against a man named Jasim on charges of land grabbing and extortion. The gang fabricated a false case against him."