Prime accused SI Akbar released on bail over Raihan's death

Sacked Sub-inspector of Bandarbazar Police camp, Akbar Hossain Bhuiya, who secured bail in a case filed in connection with the death of Raihan Ahmed at the Bandarbazar police outpost in 2020, was released from Sylhet Metropolitan Jail on Sunday.

Akbar walked out from the Sylhet Central Jail-2 on Sunday evening after completing all formal activities, said Senior Jail Super Prashanta Kumar Banik while speaking at a press briefing on Monday.

Earlier, the High Court granted bail to Akbar for six months, in connection with a case over the death of Raihan Ahmed in police custody.

Expressing dissatisfaction, Raihan’s mother said that the prime accused might be leaving the country. “I am deeply frustrated over the court order.”

On October 11, 2020, Raihan Ahmed, 34, a resident of Akharia in Sylhet city, was beaten to death in police custody.

His wife, Tahmina Akter Tanni, filed a case with Kotwali Police Station the following day against a number of unidentified people.

Four policemen, including then in-charge of Bandarbazar Police outpost sub-inspector Akbar, were suspended on October 12. The three other policemen were also withdrawn the same day.

Later, the case was transferred to the PBI.

On November 18, 2020, a court sent the suspended sub-inspector of Bandarbazar police outpost, Akbar Hossain Bhuiyan, to jail in connection with Raihan’s death.

Akbar was arrested from Dona frontier area in Kanaighat upazila of Sylhet on November 9, 2020.

Police pressed charges against six people, including Akbar on May 5, 2021.

The other accused of the case were—assistant sub-inspector Asheque Elahi, 43, constable Md Harun-or-Rashid, 32, Titu Chandra Das, 38, sub-inspector Hasan Uddin, 32 and Abdullah AL Noman, 32, a relative of Akbar.