AI demands probe into custodial death

Amnesty International on Friday urged the government to ensure investigation into the death of former deputy attorney general Momtazuddin Ahmed in police custody.

Abbas Faiz, South Asia researcher of the international rights watchdog, said in an e-mailed statement, 'It is the responsibility of the government to reveal the truth about this incident.'

'The government must take all the necessary steps to ensure that the death of Momtazuddin Ahmed is investigated and those found responsible are brought to justice,' the statement said.

It said, 'We know that many lawyers in Bangladesh are in a state of shock about the death. There are serious allegations that he was tortured in the custody of the Detective Branch of police.'

There should be thorough and rigorous investigation into all instances of human rights violation in Bangladesh but, in the case of the death of Momtazzuddin Ahmed, a supporter of the opposition, the need for this investigation to be independent and impartial is even more important, the Amnesty International said.

It also said, 'There have been repeated reports of death in custody in Bangladesh as a result of torture. The continued occurrences of such deaths point out the failure of the authorities concerned to address the issue. This trend must stop, and the time to stop it is now.'

Source : New Age

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