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‘CUSTODIAL TORTURE’ IN CTG

Bruised, student shares ordeal
STAFF CORRESPONDENT, Ctg
Family members of quota reform protester Nazmul Hosen, a student of Chattogram Govt City College, couldn’t trace him for a day after police detained him on Thursday.
They only learned about his whereabouts after a nurse of a local hospital informed them that Nazmul was taking treatment there.
Nazmul is now admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital with bruises all over his body after allegedly being tortured in police custody.
Visiting CMCH’s orthopedic department, this correspondent saw Nazmul in pain with injuries to his back, hand, thighs and knees.
“Blood is coming out of his rectum, which is a sign of severe internal bleeding,” said a doctor there requesting anonymity.
Nazmul alleged that he was tortured twice -- first at Shah Amanat Bridge police box and then at Kotwali Police Station.
Nazmul claimed that police tortured him to make him confess about his involvement with Shibir, a pro-Jamaat student group. They increased the torture when he refused to comply with their order.
On the hospital bed, Nazmul said, “Police detained me from the petrol pump after a clash. They shoved me to the ground and started kicking me. At one stage, as I told them that I am a student, some senior officers intervened and told their subordinates to stop the beating.”
“Still, some police men took me inside a police box and used sticks to beat me. They wanted me confess that I was a Shibir activist,” Nazmul continued.
Nazmul said, at one stage of the torture, he lost consciousness. “I discovered myself at Kotwali Police Station when I regained my senses,” he added.
But his ordeal didn’t stop there.
“Two policemen again tortured me [at Kotwali Police Station]. I was screaming and crying in pain. After some time, others [police men] intervened and refrained the two. Then I was taken to the duty officer’s room,” Nazmul added.
“As I fell sick, they took me to Anderkillah General Hospital around 2:00pm. They took me to Bakalia Police Station after initial treatment there,” Nazmul said.
According to Nazmul, he was taken to CMCH around 10:30pm as his condition deteriorated.
Nazmul’s brother Nazrul Islam said he first came to know about Nazmul’s whereabouts on July 19 when a nurse of the Anderkillah hospital called him.
“Before that, we couldn’t trace Nazmul. I called him on Thursday and asked him to come to my residence amid the ongoing unrest,” he added.
Kotwali Police Station’s OC Obadul denied the allegation of torture. He said Nazmul sustained injuries during clash.
Bakalia Police Station OC Aftab Hossain echoed the same.