Police murder confessions obtained through torture, says law advisor

The law advisor asks why the confessional statements have not been withdrawn

Law Advisor Asif Nazrul believes that the confessional statements obtained from two suspects in the murder and hanging up of the body of a policeman in Matuail during the quota reform movement were obtained through “torture”.

The law advisor has also asked why the confessional statements have not been withdrawn.

He made the remarks in response to a question regarding the release of Hasnatul Islam Fayaz, a young man arrested in connection with the killing.

Asif was addressing reporters after the inauguration of the '50th Basic Training Course' organised for assistant judges or equivalent judicial officers at the Judicial Administration Training Institute on Sunday morning.

He said, "After taking charge, we took the initiative to provide final reports on the July Uprising cases by talking to the then home advisor and IGP. We were informed that final reports have been provided for all the cases with only a few cases, which are related to murder, are still under investigation.

"Faiyaz's case is one such case where two accused have given statements under Section 164; that is, they have given confessional statements. I came to know from the news that if they do not withdraw the statements, then it is very difficult to provide a final report. And it is completely under the jurisdiction of the police and the home ministry. The law ministry has nothing to do with it until the final report is provided."

The law advisor said, "Two people have given statements under Section 164 in this case. I believe the police tortured them. Why was no initiative been taken to withdraw them even though eight months have passed? You should ask the authorities about them. Those concerned can tell you why they have not been withdrawn after eight months. If they are withdrawn, the path to settling the case will be smooth."

He said that Faiyaz's brother was not given any assurance on the matter and was only informed about the trial process.

Faiyaz is the 16th listed suspect among 17 accused in a case over the hanging of a policeman’s body opposite Matuail Hospital during the quota reform movement.

Faiyaz, a student of Dhaka College, was not yet 18 when he was arrested, according to his lawyer. According to the birth certificate, Faiyaz's date of birth is Apr 19, 2007. He took the Secondary School Certificate examination in 2024 and got an A+ from Shamsul Haque Khan School and College in Dhaka.