SC stays HC order over accepting BB official’s complaint as FIR
UNB
Dhaka: The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the High Court order for accepting the complaint of Bangladesh Bank official Golam Rabbi, who was allegedly tortured by a policeman, Masud Shikder, as the first information report (FIR).
Chamber Judge Hazan Foyez Siddique stayed the HC order until 25 January following a petition moved by the state and sent it to appellate bench for full hearing.
Attorney General Mahbube Alam represented the state while advocate Mahbubuddin Khokon stood for Rabbi.
The High Court on Monday ordered the officer-in-charge of Mohammadpur Police Station to accept the complaint of Golam Rabbi against the police station’s Sub-inspector Masud Shikder as the FIR.
The HC also issued a rule asking to explain why the police torture on Rabbi should not be declared illegal and unconstitutional.
Secretaries of Home Ministry, Law Ministry, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner, deputy commissioner of Tejgoan Zone, officer-in-charge Mohammadpur police station and sub-inspector Masud Shikder and Human Rights Commission have been made respondents to the rule.
Earlier on Sunday, Supreme Court lawyers Ehsanur Rahman, Julfikar Ali Junu and Jahid Hasan, a journalist of Radio Dhoni 91.2 FM, filed a writ with the High Court seeking a judicial inquiry into alleged torture on the Bangladesh Bank official by some policemen.
The petitioners also sought issuance of a rule upon the government seeking explanation why a directive would not be issued to arrest the accused police officer immediately and why the authorities concerned would not be directed to pay the victim’s family Tk 3 crore in compensation.
On January 9, Golam Rabbi, 28, an assistant director of Bangladesh Bank, was allegedly tortured by Mohammadpur police sub-inspector Masud Shikder and some others in a police vehicle for refusing to pay a bribe of Tk 5 lakh.
The incident went viral on social media, triggering a huge outcry. Rabbi then lodged a complaint with Mohammadpur Police Station. On Saturday, sub-inspector Masud Shikder was suspended as a probe body found him after a preliminary investigation.