'Tortured' BB official hospitalised

A Bangladesh Bank official traumatised by alleged police torture was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) yesterday with aches in the head and shoulder.

Golam Rabbi, an assistant director of the central bank, also complained of his inability to sleep as he had frequent flashbacks and nightmares of the torture.

He was admitted to the casualty ward.

Hafiz Al Faruq, assistant commissioner (Mohammadpur zone) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, who was assigned to investigate the matter, said he was collecting information regarding the incident. He, however, did not specify when the investigation might be completed.

Sub-inspector Masud Shikder of Mohammadpur Police Station and his team beat up Golam Rabbi for Tk 5 lakh, on Taj Mahal Road, on Saturday night, said the victim. The officer also threatened to kill Rabbi in "crossfire" and falsely implicate him in narcotics crimes.

Masud was closed on Monday.

Meanwhile, students of Dhaka University yesterday formed a human chain at the foot of Raju sculpture, demanding exemplary punishment for the sub-inspector.

Protesting the brutality on Rabbi, who was also a journalist, the students demanded that Masud be sacked permanently from the police force. DU Journalists Association demanded a trial of the perpetrators.