‘I was given 70 to 80 unknown injections in jail’: Gazi Salahuddin Tanvir

Gazi Salahuddin Tanvir has alleged that he was subjected to severe torture in prison and on remand for more than a month, including being administered dozens of unidentified injections, and was threatened that members of his family would be forcibly disappeared if he disclosed his treatment.

Speaking at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Friday morning, Tanvir said he was tortured between August 5 and September 15 while being held in Bogura and later Keraniganj prisons.

“From August 5 to September 15, I was subjected to severe torture and threats in prison and while on remand,” Tanvir said. “I was threatened that if I spoke publicly about the torture, members of my family would be forcibly disappeared.”

“Despite that, I have come before you to tell the truth. I fear no one but Allah,” he said.

Tanvir said a case was filed against him under the Cyber Security Act on August 2, with Bogura Sadar Thana BNP President HS Mafutun Ahmed Khan as the complainant. He was arrested three days later, on August 5.

He alleged that after being taken to Bogura prison, he was placed in a filthy cell without adequate light, ventilation, electricity or a fan.

Tanvir further alleged that some prison guards called him a “July militant” and that he was deliberately served stale and rotten food.

He said he subsequently developed diarrhoea and was taken to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital for treatment.

Tanvir alleged that medicines prescribed by doctors were withheld from him and that he was instead forced to take unidentified medicines.

“Countless injections were administered to my body. I do not know what those injections contained,” he said. “I was given at least 70 to 80 injections.”

Tanvir said he suffered persistent fever during his detention and was repeatedly injected. On one occasion, he alleged, an injection was followed by numbness in his right arm and right leg.

He was then taken to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital, where, according to Tanvir, a doctor told him he had suffered a stroke. He alleged that prison authorities disputed that assessment.

Tanvir said he underwent a CT scan but was never shown its findings.

He also made serious allegations about an attempted MRI examination at the hospital, saying he was put inside a machine despite being told it was malfunctioning.

“While I was inside, there was a deafening noise and the machine stopped,” he said. “I became paralysed from my waist down. I was unconscious for 10 to 12 hours.”

Tanvir said he was later transferred to Dhaka for what authorities described as better treatment and was detained at Keraniganj Central Jail.

He alleged that while returning to prison after being taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, formerly known as PG Hospital, several plainclothes men entered the vehicle and assaulted him.

Tanvir claimed the men mentioned Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan and his son Sayem Sobhan Anvir while questioning him about remarks he had previously made concerning them.

“They told me, ‘How dare you address the owner of Bashundhara so disrespectfully?’” Tanvir alleged.

Daily Waadaa could not independently verify the allegations against the prison authorities, medical personnel or the individuals named by Tanvir.

Tanvir further alleged that he was repeatedly taken from his cell at Keraniganj to a dark room and tortured.

He said his interrogators mentioned Nasiruddin Patwary, Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan and Salahuddin Ammar by name and threatened that others associated with the July uprising would receive similar treatment.

Tanvir also alleged preferential treatment for detained Awami League leaders, claiming some had access to phones, better food and regular family visits.

He made the further allegation that some Awami League leaders were taken out of prison in vehicles at night and returned before dawn.

“I saw this myself,” Tanvir said. “Perhaps seeing this is what ultimately brought this upon me.”

Tanvir said his physical condition had deteriorated severely since his release.

“I was tortured so severely that I now have to pass urine and stool into a bag and pads,” he said.

He said he was currently admitted to a private hospital and had been referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for further treatment.

“I do not know what will happen with my treatment,” Tanvir said. “I pray that what was done to me is never done to anyone else.”