Death of Youth in Custody
'Black day' observed in Gaibandha
Our Correspondent, Gaibandha
People in Gaibandha town yesterday observed 'black day' yesterday protesting the death of a youth in police custody and demanding punishment to policemen involved in the incident. Black flags were hoisted atop of all private buildings, shops and business establishment protesting the alleged police torture during remand that led to the death of Sajedur Rahman Sajid, 26, an official of a pharmaceutical company. The youth from Munshipara area in Gaibandha town died in police custody on May 21. He was arrested from Katpatti near Gaibandha railway station on the night of May 18. Gaibandha Nagorik Committee, which launched agitation for an impartial probe into the incident and punishment to the accused cops, had announced the programmes earlier. Nagorik Committee held a rally, a condolence meeting and brought out a mourning procession in the town yesterday. The processionists comprising people from all walks of life marched the streets wearing black badges. The condolence meeting, held at Gaibandha Shaheed Minar, was presided over by Aminul Islam Golap, convener of the Nagorik Committee. It was also addressed by former lawmakers Abdur Rashid Sarker and Hafizer Rahman Pramanik, Gaibandha Pourashava chairman Anwarul Hasan Sabur, Farhad Abdullah Harun of Nagorik Committee, Gaibandha CPB (Communist Party of Bangladesh) secretary Mihir Ghosh, Gano Forum leader Moinul Huq Raja, municipal commissioner Ranajit Bakshi Surja, Fazley Karim Pallab, Sirajul Hoq, Ematul Islam and Madhab Karmaker. They demanded a judicial investigation into the "murder" in custody. They criticised the authorities for not arresting the accused cops. The speakers also demanded arrest of ruling party cadres who attacked an earlier rally of Nagorik Committee held in the town protesting the killing. A tougher agitation programme including 48-hour hartal in the town will be observed if the accused policemen are not arrested by today (Thursday), they said. They alleged that recovery of a revolver from Sajid was part of a conspiracy. He was killed at the behest of some vested quarters, they claimed. As per the earlier announced programme, Nagoril Committee will besiege the Police Superintendent's office and stage demonstrations today to press the demand.
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