DHAKA: The High Court Monday again warned that custodial death would not be tolerated anymore and those guilty of such lynching, whoever they may be, would be meted out legal action.

An HC bench comprising Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Justice Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain gave the warning during the hearing of a public-interest-litigation writ, as previous forewarnings apparently went unheeded.

Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) and Bangladesh Human Rights Foundation jointly filed the petition on July 5 following some reported incidents of custodial death in the capital.

Besides, the court issued some directives in connection with the three much-discussed custodial deaths in Dhaka.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner was directed to submit a report on August 3 on what steps have been taken by his office on the recent deaths allegedly following police action.

The High Court also asked Ramna thana OC Shibli Noman to appear before the court on August 19 to explain the death of Babul Gazi in the police station on June 28.

The court also asked the director of Dhaka Medical College Hospital to report on August 19 about what treatment was provided to the victims of custodial death.

Advocate Manzill Morshed and Advocate Elina Khan represented the petitioners while Additional Attorney-General MK Rahman stood for the state. Yusuf Hossain Humaun was the amicus curie for the case.

Later, Manzill said, “We appealed to the court for not including any police in the committee formed for investigating custodial deaths.”

He added: “We want safety from the police, not death. We want to see police as protector, not predator.”   

According to reports, auto-rickshaw trader Babul Gazi died in Madhubag area of Maghbazar on June 28, Mizanur Rahman Mizan died in Gulshan area on July 1 and Mojibur Rahman in Mirpur area on July 2 while they were in police custody.

The deceased persons’ families filed cases with Ramna, Gulshan and Darus Salam police stations against the police personnel concerned in connection with the deaths.

BDST 17.04 HRS JULY 19, 2010