Bangladesh News

Torture in custody caused serious spinal injury to Tarique Rahman, the senior joint secretary general of BNP, said his attorney to a special court yesterday, urging it to look into the matter.

During the hearing on charge framing in the Tk 21-crore bribery case against Tarique, former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar and six others, Tarique’s counsel barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia said, “Tarique was youthful and a completely fit individual at the time of his arrest, but he is physically impaired today. His spinal vertebrae had been damaged due to tortures in detention.”

“To ensure justice, the court should look into the matter [to find out] how it could happen during custody,” barrister Rafiq added.

Special Court-3 of Judge Shahed Noor Uddin, however, did not comment on the issue and deferred the hearing on the charge framing of the case till June 19.

Submitting two pleas — one for adjournment of the case and the other seeking overseas medical treatment for his client, barrister Rafiq during the hearing said the proceedings of the case should be adjourned as Tarique is incapable of attending the trial due to health reasons.

Tarique’s condition did not improve to a “satisfactory” level despite ongoing treatment in the country, he added.

Out of the eight accused in the case, Tarique “could not be produced” due to illness, while Babar and Abu Sufian, director of East-West Property Development Ltd, a concern of Bashundhara Group, were produced to stand trial before the court yesterday.

According to the report of the medical board formed for Tarique, his life is in danger and he risks going “physically invalid” for life unless proper treatment is ensured for him soon, said barrister Rafique adding that Tarique should be sent abroad before he becomes disabled.

Opposing both the pleas of the defence, Syed Shameem Ahsan Habib, the prosecution lawyer, said the state is conforming to its duty of ensuring Tarique’s treatment in the country and the court does not have the jurisdiction over sending Tarique abroad for treatment.

On October 4 last year, Abul Kashem, deputy assistant director of the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case with Ramna Police Station, accusing six people including Babar for bribery involving the murder of Bashundhara Group Director Humayun Kabir Sabbir.

Tarique and former BNP lawmaker Qazi Saleemul Huq Kamal were implicated in the case later when initial investigations found their involvement in the crime.

Tarique was arrested on March 7 last year on extortion charges while Babar was arrested on May 29 last year.