Dhaka Court Bans Public Statements by Defendants in Police Custody

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A Dhaka tribunal has issued a directive prohibiting the public broadcast of statements made by a murder suspect while in police custody. The order, handed down Tuesday by Judge Masrur Salekeen of the Dhaka Metropolitan Children’s Repression Prevention Tribunal, comes in response to a petition filed during the high-profile case involving the rape and murder of a child in the capital’s Pallabi area.

Special Public Prosecutor Azizur Rahman, who is leading the state’s case, submitted the application prior to the commencement of witness testimony. Rahman argued that under existing legal frameworks and explicit High Court directives, individuals in police custody are strictly forbidden from speaking to the media or third parties outside the presence of a judge.

The prosecution emphasized that the dissemination of statements from suspects in custody constitutes a punishable offense under national regulations. Rahman further contended that such publicity threatens the integrity of the judicial process, risks influencing public opinion, and potentially undermines national security.

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In granting the motion, the court instructed law enforcement authorities to strictly enforce these measures. Officials are now required to ensure that suspects in custody do not engage in public discourse, maintaining the sanctity of the courtroom proceedings and preventing interference with the ongoing legal investigation.