Raihan’s 2020 custodial death in Sylhet: Ex-SI Akbar gets death, 2 constables life terms

A Sylhet court on Thursday sentenced former sub-inspector Akbar Hossain Bhuiyan, the then-in-charge of the city’s Bandar Bazar police outpost, to death for the 2020 killing of Raihan Ahmed, 34, in police custody.

The Sylhet Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court also sentenced dismissed constables Harun Or Rashid and Tipu Chandra Das to life imprisonment with hard labour. Dismissed sub-inspector Hasan Uddin, assistant sub-inspector Ashek Elahi and journalist Abdullah Al Noman were each sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for destroying evidence.

Judge Abdul Majid Munshi delivered the verdict.

Besides the death sentence, Akbar was fined 1 lakh taka. Under another section, he was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined 50,000 taka, with an additional six months’ imprisonment in default of payment.

Harun and Tipu were each fined 1 lakh taka, with three years’ imprisonment in default of payment. The other three accused were each fined 50,000 taka, with six months’ imprisonment in default.

The court’s public prosecutor, Advocate Mohammad Mominul Islam Momin, confirmed the verdict to Daily Waadaa. He said the court delivered its judgment after nearly six years of hearings and arguments. Of the 69 witnesses in the case, 61 testified.

Of the six accused, five remain absconding, while Ashek is the only one in custody. He was brought to court under tight security ahead of the verdict.

Momin said the prosecution was satisfied with the verdict but would decide whether to appeal to the higher court after reviewing the full judgment.

Raihan’s mother, Salma Begum, welcomed the verdict and called for the arrest of the absconding accused and the swift implementation of their sentences.

Advocate Delwar Hossain Shamim, counsel for Ashek and Hasan, said Ashek had been in prison for six years, while Hasan had served around one and a half years. He expressed hope that Hasan would surrender within the stipulated time out of respect for the court. He also said the defence would appeal against the verdict in the higher court.

Raihan died after being tortured at the Bandar Bazar police outpost in the early hours of October 11, 2020. His wife, Tahmina Akter, filed a case with Kotwali Model Police Station the following night.

Following the incident, Akbar and three other police personnel were suspended, while three others were withdrawn from their posts. The investigation was transferred to the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) on October 14.

Raihan’s body was exhumed on October 15 for a second autopsy in the presence of a magistrate. Both post-mortem examinations found 111 injury marks on his body, including 14 serious injuries.

On October 20, Hasan was also suspended over allegations of concealing information and helping Akbar flee.

Akbar went into hiding after the incident and was arrested near the Kanaighat border in Sylhet on November 9, 2020. He remained in prison until the High Court granted him bail on August 4, 2025, and was released on August 10 that year. Although his bail was later suspended, he did not surrender to the lower court and remains absconding. Reports suggest he has fled the country.

On May 5, 2021, the PBI submitted a charge sheet against all six accused in the case.