Life sentences upheld for 2 police officers over Jony custodial death

The High Court on Monday upheld the life imprisonment of two police officers convicted in the custodial death of driver Ishtiaq Hossain Jony in Pallabi, Dhaka.

The verdict was delivered by a bench comprising Justice S.M. Kuddus Zaman and Justice A.K.M. Rabiul Hasan, affirming the ruling of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court from September 9, 2020.

Then-Sub-Inspector Zahidur Rahman, Assistant Sub-Inspector Rashedul Hasan, and ASI Kamruzzaman were sentenced to life terms for torturing Johnny to death while he was in police custody. Each officer was also fined Tk 1 lakh and ordered to pay Tk 2 lakh in compensation to the victim’s family.

In the same case, two police informants—Sumon and Russell—were each sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment and fined Tk 20,000.

The incident sparked widespread outrage and became emblematic of allegations of custodial abuse in Bangladesh. Human rights groups have repeatedly called for stricter accountability within law enforcement agencies.