STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Human rights campaigners have called for a radical change to how Bangladesh investigates allegations of torture and custodial deaths, saying that the current flawed system allows the police to investigate themselves.

Speaking at the 12th Human Rights Conference in Dhaka yesterday, lawyers and activists said the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) or an independent body should handle investigations instead.

Referring to the 2014 custodial death of Ishtiaque Hossain Jonny and his family’s decade-long legal battle, Supreme Court lawyer Sara Hossain highlighted challenges within the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act, 2013.

“It is nearly impossible for ordinary citizens to file a case against the police. Even if a case is recorded, the investigation process remains a major hurdle.”

Rocky’s [Jonny’s brother] case saw a verdict because there was a judicial inquiry.

“Otherwise, would the police investigate themselves?” she questioned, emphasising the need to empower the NHRC to independently investigate law enforcement agencies.

Police had offered a settlement after the death, said Jonny’s brother Imtiaz Hossain Rocky. When his family refused, the police declined to file a murder case.

Tajul Islam, former chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, cited a practical example to echo this sentiment.

Despite video evidence of a bomb recovery at the Uttara TFI cell, the chemical report found no trace of explosives because the police were in charge of the investigation, he said.

Meanwhile, lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir highlighted a study on 2,176 police crimes between 2000 and 2023.

In 28 cases where police officers were the accused, final reports declared them

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