BLAST seeks speedy disposal of Johnny custodial death appeal

Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) has demanded speedy disposal of the pending appeal in the custodial death case of Ishtiaq Hossain Johnny and immediate payment of the compensation awarded by the courts.

More than 12 years after Johnny died following alleged torture in police custody, his family is still waiting for final justice and payment of the court-ordered compensation, said the rights organisation.

September 9, 2026 marked six years since the country witnessed its first landmark verdict under the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act, 2013, in Johnny’s case.

BLAST said the prolonged proceedings demonstrate the continuing difficulties faced by victims of custodial torture and their families in securing effective remedies under the law.

On the night of February 9, 2014, Johnny and his younger brother Imtiaz Hossain Rocky were taken into police custody from a wedding ceremony in Pallabi, Dhaka. Johnny, a driver by profession, was allegedly subjected to physical torture in custody and subsequently died.

He left behind his mother, wife, an 11-year-old son and an eight-year-old daughter.

According to BLAST, police initially refused to accept a case filed by Johnny’s family. Rocky later filed the case under the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act, 2013.

The trial proceedings were subsequently stayed. With legal assistance from BLAST, the High Court Division vacated the stay and directed that the trial be completed within six months.

On September 9, 2020, the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court delivered the first-ever verdict under the 2013 Act.

It sentenced Sub Inspector Jahidur Rahman, Assistant Sub Inspector Rashedul Hasan and Assistant Sub Inspector Md Kamruzzaman Mintu to life imprisonment and ordered each of them to pay Tk 2 lakh in compensation.

Two police informants, Sumon and Russel, were sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment.