Justice for Raihan

Have we forgotten Raihan Ahmed who was reportedly tortured to death in police custody in Sylhet last month? The arrest of sub-inspector Akbar Hossain Bhuiyan who managed to flee away after the murder has made the media focus on the case again. After Akbar's arrest, we now demand the arrest of the persons who had destroyed evidences of torturing Raihan and the police officers who helped the SI to flee immediately after he was suspended.
The death of Raihan, allegedly due to torture in a police outpost in Sylhet last month, raises serious questions about the conduct of the police. The government must find out whether there is any lack of training for the members of police or something else. The incident points to a culture of impunity that prevails in the law and order system, encouraging police officials to flout due process and perpetrate violence on citizens.
So, we demand that the charge-sheet of the case should be submitted without any delay and exemplary punishment meted out to the killers through speedy trial.
As for the government, it should do more to send out the message that custodial deaths or excess by law enforcers will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Mahmud Kibria
Central Road, Dhanmondi, Dhaka
[email protected]