A panel of medical examiners has informed a Dhaka court that it did not find any sign of torture on cartoonist Ahmed Kabir, who claimed to have been abused in captivity following his arrest in a Digital Security Act case.
However, the three-member medical board from Dhaka Medical College Hospital in its report said further investigations were needed before a final decision could be made.
Additional Public Prosecutor Taposh Kumar Pal confirmed the submission of the report but declined to elaborate on the matter, as per bdnews24.com report.
The board, formed on Mar 20, was headed by Sheikh Nurul Fattah Rumi, head of the Department of Otolaryngology, Fakrul Amin Khan of the Department of Orthopaedics, and Hafiz Sardar of the Department of Medicine. bdnews24.com could not speak to them separately about the report.
However, Brig Gen Nazmul Haque, director of DMCH, said, “The report was given several days ago. I can't say much about it now. However, nothing significant was found.”
Kishore was released on bail on Mar 4 after spending nine months in jail in a case under the Digital Security Act. He later initiated a case with the court under the Prevention of Torture and Death in Custody Act, 2013, alleging ‘torture in the custody of law enforcement.'
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Imrul Kayes subsequently assigned the Police Bureau of Investigation to open a probe and submit a report by Apr 15.
The judge also ordered the Dhaka Medical College Hospital authorities to form a three-member panel and turn in a report on the cartoonist’s health within 24 hours.
After the physical examination, the medical board submitted the report on Mar 20 but it could not be presented in court as normal judicial activities were suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Lawyer Taposh Kumar said, “The report will be presented to the judge once the regular proceedings of the court begin. Then, the court will issue the next order in this regard. ”
However, the PBI is yet to submit its investigation report.
In his complaint, Kishore said he was arrested on May 5 last year in a case under the Digital Security Act started with Ramna police. But three days earlier, on May 2, he claimed that several unidentified men had taken him from Kakrail home to a 'secluded place' before forcefully handcuffing and putting a mask on him.
After being slapped during the torture, he sensed blood dripping from his ear. He fainted in pain after the men beat him up with sticks, according to the complaint.
He later underwent two major surgeries on his eye and ear, according to his brother Ahsan Kabir.
His co-accused in the digital security case, writer Mushtaq Ahmed, died in jail last month. The prison death of the writer triggered protests demanding justice for him and the repeal of the Digital Security Act.
The charges against them include propagating disinformation against the government on social media.
However, Kishore's elder brother Ahsan said his ailing health was even apparent to the judge who allowed the cartoonist to sit down during his bail hearing.
Kishore also had a cannula in his hand when he was taken to the board at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, according to him.
Reacting to the medical panel's report, Ahsan said, "He still can't walk properly. If such a report has been filed, then I have nothing much to say. However, the matter is very sad."
