SK demands judicial probe into youth’s death in Faridpur DB custody

The Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) is expressing deep concern over the death of a young man named Mirza Ishtiaq Ahmed Pranto, 24, in DB custody in Faridpur. It has also demanded a judicial investigation.

ASK gave this information in a statement sent on Sunday (June 21).

The organization says that Mirza Ishtiaq Ahmed Pranto is the son of Mirza Eskender of Gondardia area of ​​Madhukhali Municipality and is a student of Faridpur Law College. A team of the District Detective Police arrested Pranto with 100 grams of marijuana from Gondardia village, claimed District Detective Police Officer-in-Charge Md. Alamgir Hossain on Saturday evening (June 20).

After the arrest, Pranto was taken to Madhukhali Police Station. After further drug-related operations, a total of four people including him were taken to Faridpur city in the morning and kept in DB custody. There, Pranto fell ill and was declared dead when he was taken to the hospital on Sunday morning. Media sources have reported that Ishtiaq Ahmed Pranto was a local Chhatra League activist.

The victim's family and relatives allege that he was physically tortured during his arrest and detention, which may have led to his death. The family's allegations have once again brought to the fore long-standing concerns about torture and death in state custody.

The Law and Arbitration Center believes that state custody cannot be a place of risk to life under any circumstances. Articles 31 and 32 of the Constitution of Bangladesh recognize the fundamental responsibility of the state to preserve and protect the right to life. At the same time, Bangladesh, as a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention against Torture, is obliged to protect the safety, dignity and life of persons in custody.

In this context, ASK strongly demands that an impartial and judicial investigation into such incidents is essential, so that the real cause of death can be found out impartially and those responsible can be brought to justice.

At the same time, ASK believes that it is the responsibility and duty of the state to ensure transparency by releasing the full CCTV footage of the incident, provide security and legal assistance to the victim's family, and take appropriate steps through the legal process.