[30 September, 2020] A young man named Masud Rana (33), died in the custody of the Paltan police station in Dhaka. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) expresses grave concern and demands a proper judicial investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

According to the police as reported in the media, on the evening of 29 September 2020, Masud Rana and his friend, Momin (36) were arrested from near the Stadium area in the capital. Police also said that, 100 yaba tablets were also recovered from them. After Masud Rana fell ill in the course of the interrogation, he was taken to the Rajarbag Police Lines Hospital. When his condition deteriorated around 11 pm, he was transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. It was there that the doctor in-charge declared Masud Rana as dead.

ASK is gravely concerned by such incidents of torture and death of individuals in the custody of law enforcement agencies. ASK believes that in order to establish rule of law and justice in the country, all such incidents must be fairly investigated. When a person is arrested or detained, he is under the custody of the state. It is the state’s duty then to ensure all forms of security of that person. We are frequently witnessing torture and death of arrested or detained individuals while in police custody, which is undesirable and unexpected. The causes of these deaths during the usual interrogations remain unpublished. ASK believes that such reasons must be identified. For such incidents of death, it is necessary to conduct judicial inquiry so that any involvement of professional misconduct, unnecessary use of force, or misuse of power by the members of the law enforcement agencies are brought to light.

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