Woman dies in police custody; husband alleges torture

BARISHAL, Sept 11: A woman died in police custody in Bakerganj Upazila of the district on Wednesday evening, with her husband alleging that she was tortured and killed by police.

Nadira Begum, 40, of Krishnakathi Village in Bharpasha Union, was arrested around 3:30 am during an anti-drug operation, police said. They alleged that she was carrying yaba, drug sales money worth Tk 19,540 and three mobile phones.

Barishal Superintendent of Police (SP) AZM Mostafizur Rahman said Nadira swallowed yaba during the arrest. Police tried to take her to a hospital for treatment, but she refused, he said. She later fell ill while being taken to court and died at a hospital before treatment began, he also said.

An inquest conducted in the presence of an executive magistrate found no injury marks or other abnormalities, according to the SP. He said the death was being investigated and a committee would be formed to examine the circumstances. Police would face action if negligence was found, he added.

Nadira’s body was taken to the morgue at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal for an autopsy.

Her husband, Enamul Haque Gazi, a former UP member, rejected the police account and alleged that police went to their home looking for him in connection with a land dispute case and took Nadira to the police station after failing to find him. He also alleged that police took Tk 1,19,550, jewellery and a mobile phone from the house. “I will file a murder case over my wife’s death,” he added.

Officer-in-Charge of Bakerganj Police Station (PS) Adil Hossain said Enamul was on a law enforcement list of suspected drug traders but could not confirm whether he had a case with the PS.

Rights group Odhikar’s Barishal representative Aziz Shaheen said the conflicting accounts should be resolved through an autopsy and investigation.