Ex-ACC official's death in custody: Chandgaon police inspector transferred in 'public interest'

Inspector (Investigation) Monibur Rahman of Chandgaon police station has been transferred in connection with the death of the former deputy director of the Anti-Corruption Commission Syed Mohammad Shahidullah in Chandgaon police custody.

"MA Masud, the Additional Commissioner of Police (Administration and Finance) at Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP), issued the transfer order on Monday," CMP's Additional Deputy Commissioner (PR) Spina Rani Pramanik said on Tuesday (17 October).

Following a case by the victim's wife, a Chattogram court on Monday directed the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Chattogram Metro Unit to conduct an inquiry and submit a report.

Over the incident, Foujia Anwar, Shahidullah's wife filed a case in the court of Metropolitan Sessions Judge Begum Zebunnesha under the Torture and Death in Custody (Prevention) Act on Monday, accusing nine people, including four policemen.

The accused in the case are Chandgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Khairul Islam, Inspector (Investigation) Mobinur Rahman, suspended assistant sub-inspectors (ASI) Md Yusuf Ali and ATM Sohel Rana, Shahidullah's neighbor SM Asaduzzaman, alleged Jubo League leader Jasim Uddin, Md Liton, Roni Akhtar Tania, and Koli Akhtar. 

Citing public interest for the transfers, CMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (Public Relations) Spina Rani Pramanik said, "The inspector has been reassigned to the office of deputy commissioner of police (West). 

"Sabed Ali, who served as an inspector (crime) at the office, will now take charge, replacing Monibur at Chandgaon police station." 

Earlier, two police officers were also withdrawn from their positions on 5 October in connection with the same incident. They are ASI Yusuf Ali and ASI ATM Sohail Rana of Chandgaon Police Station.

Shahidullah was brought to the Chandgaon police station from his residence in Bahaddar Hat in Chattogram on the night of 3 October, based on an arrest warrant in a Complaint Registered Case. He suddenly fell ill, and his family members, who were present at the time, rushed him to the Parkview Hospital. Unfortunately, he passed away around 12:30 am while undergoing treatment, likely due to heart problems, as stated by OC Khairul.

However, Shahidullah's family has alleged that he was killed by the police in a premeditated manner. After being taken to the police station, the police reportedly denied him an inhaler, even though he was extremely ill.

According to police, a woman filed a case in a Chattogram court, accusing Shahidullah and his brother-in-law, Mohammad Qaiser Anwar, of criminal intimidation. The court issued arrest warrants against them on 27 September, and these warrants were delivered to Chandgaon police station on 1 October.