Faridpur police seek departmental action against 11 officers over custodial death of student
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Authorities in Faridpur have recommended departmental disciplinary proceedings against 11 police officers, including the former officer-in-charge of the district’s Detective Branch (DB), following the custodial death of 27-year-old student and political activist Mirza Ishtiaq Ahmed.
Faridpur Superintendent of Police Shahriar Mohammad Miyaji confirmed that an internal investigation report, which prompted the recommendation for legal action, has been forwarded to police headquarters for final review. The decision follows a probe into the circumstances surrounding the death of Ishtiaq, a student at Faridpur Law College who also worked as a seasonal laborer at the Faridpur Sugar Mill.
Ishtiaq was taken into custody by DB personnel on the afternoon of June 20 near his home in Madhukhali. While in police custody, he fell ill and was transported to Faridpur Medical College Hospital, where he was pronounced dead the following morning.
In the aftermath of the arrest, sub-inspector Ahaduzzaman filed a narcotics case against Ishtiaq, alleging that the officers recovered 100 grams of cannabis during the operation. The police report claimed that the arrest occurred at approximately 2:00 a.m. after Ishtiaq attempted to flee from officers, eventually confessing to possessing the narcotics.
However, video footage of the incident contradicts the official narrative, showing the encounter taking place during daylight hours. In the video, Ishtiaq is seen wearing a lungi rather than trousers, contradicting the police account of the search. The recording further depicts officers striking Ishtiaq before appearing to discover a package several feet away from where he was standing.
The victim’s mother, Khadija Akter, alleged shortly after the incident that police had demanded a bribe in exchange for her son’s release. She claimed she traveled to Faridpur with 100,000 taka to secure his freedom, only to be informed of his death.
Superintendent Miyaji stated that the investigation concluded that the officers involved in the operation, acting under the direction of the former DB chief, were complicit in criminal misconduct. The department has recommended that disciplinary measures be tailored to the specific degree of involvement found for each officer during the internal review process.
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