The top court has instructed authorities to record any case filed by Bangladesh Bank official Golam Rabbi over alleged torture by police.

A four-member bench led by the chief justice gave the order on Thursday.

“Golam Rabbi has the right to file a case with the police or court over the incident,” the court said in its order.

On the night of January 9, Rabbi was allegedly confined in a police vehicle and tortured by Sub Inspector Masud Shikdar in a bid to extort money from him.

The police official had reportedly asked him to pay up or face prosecution as a Yaba dealer and addict.

On January 11, Rabbi submitted a written complaint to police’s Tejgaon division chief, which the High Court later ordered police to accept as an FIR (first information report).

After hearing a petition, the High Court also issued a rule asking why the torture of Rabbi in police custody should not be declared illegal.

The State moved the Supreme Court’s chamber judge, which stayed the order and forwarded the matter to a regular appeals bench.

On Thursday, the top court gave its decision after resolving the High Court's rule and the State’s plea.

After the allegations surfaced, Shikdar was taken off duty on January 11 and then was suspended five days later.

bdnews24.com/TF