'Tortured' pro-BNP lawyer dies

[Md Akmal]

Dhaka, Aug 26 (bdnews24.com) — Pro-BNP lawyer M U Ahmed who was allegedly tortured by police in custody after his arrest over a chaos on the High Court premises has died at a city hospital, a BNP spokesman says.

He died at Square Hospitals, where he was being treated, around 1:10pm on Friday, BNP joint secretary-general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told bdnews24.com. He was 52.

Ahmed was detained by detectives on Aug 11 in a dawn raid at his Segunbagicha home. His family has accused the police of torturing him after the arrest.

Following a cardiac arrest, he was first taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital and later to National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease.

On Aug 16, he was shifted to Square Hospitals after getting bail.

The High Court on Aug 21 asked the government to bear the cost of his medical treatment. It said the government should bear at least the cost to treat Ahmed at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.

The court also wanted to know why directions would not be issued to send Ahmed abroad for treatment, if necessary.

 

[Md Akmal]

Govt. has to take responsibility for death of Adv MU Ahmed: Khaleda

Dhaka, Aug 26 (UNB) - BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Friday said the government will have to take the responsibility for the death of Advocate MU Ahmed in police custody. In a statement, Khaleda, now in Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage, said that Adv Ahmed’s death is not natural, but abnormal as it happened under police custody. She expressed her deep shock at the death. BNP chairperson’s statement was conveyed to the press in Dhaka by her press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan. Supreme Court lawyer MU Ahmed passed away at the city’s Square Hospital today (Friday).

He died around 1:10 pm while undergoing treatment under police custody, BNP sources said.

Known as a pro-BNP lawyer, MU Ahmed was arrested over a chaotic incident that took place in the ejlash of a High Court Bench on August 2.

 

[Md Akmal]

Dhaka, Aug 26 (UNB) - The main opposition BNP will stage countrywide demonstration tomorrow (Saturday) to protest what it said the killing of Advocate MU Ahmed due to ‘barbaric torture by police’. BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programme today (Friday). The demonstration is also aimed at demanding the trial of the killing. Leaders and workers of BNP and its front and associate organizations will wear black badges to mourn the death of MU Ahmed. Supreme Court pro-BNP lawyer Momtazuddin Ahmed passed away at the city’s Square Hospital at about 1:10 pm Friday under police custody.

 

[Zabaniyah]

Since when was Awami League so fond of torture?

This isn't going to bode well for the nation. The AL already has a miserable human rights record.

 

[saleen_s7]

Since when was Awami League so fond of torture?

When was it not? People keep bringing up the creation of RAB and how BNP was behind it, but people tend to ignore why the creation of RAB was mandatory at that time. The period after Awami league just left power and their goons were roaming around the streets and do people not remember the infamous MP's like Joynal Hazari? Worst of all, this weren't just one or two cherry picking leaders, the cabinets consisted mostly of goons who were promoted to MP's and ministers.
This story is a sad event, but nothing new. Chowdhury Alam has been disappeared and the govt turned a blind eye to it. Even to day the BNP activists and journalists were harassed by jubo league members when they were protesting the terrible road conditions. And now, even the leaders openly accuse the media of "conspiring" against the govt. Behind the curtains, many journalists has been pressurised directly or indirectly to not criticise the govt. And many such journalists just "disappeared". The culprits and the ruling party men know very well that the situation they created and the main "alleged" AL man behind the stock market crash already put all his asset on auction for sale and transferred a huge chunk of his asset turned cash abroad.

 

[ProsperBD]

Three words: Pathetic, Disgusting, Inhumane.