Sylhet Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court Judge Abdul Majid Munshi in the verdict also sentenced two constables - Titu Chandra Das and Harun-or-Rashid - to life imprisonment, confirmed Public Prosecutor Muminul Islam Momin.
A SYLHET court today (29 October) sentenced former sub-inspector (SI) Akbar Hossain Bhuiyan to death over the custodial death of Raihan Ahmed at Bandar Bazar police outpost.
Sylhet Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court Judge Abdul Majid Munshi in the verdict also sentenced two constables - Titu Chandra Das and Harun-or-Rashid - to life imprisonment, confirmed Public Prosecutor Muminul Islam Momin.
Momin said three more defendants — dismissed assistant SI Ashek Elahi and SI Hasan Uddin, and journalist Abdullah Al Noman — were sentenced to seven years in prison.
He said that of the six accused in the case, only dismissed assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Ashek Elahi is in custody. The others are absconding.
This afternoon, Ashek Elahi, the only accused in custody, was brought to court from prison under tight security ahead of the verdict.
Before the verdict, Raihan Ahmed's mother, Salma Begum, expressed anger over the accused securing bail. "What am I supposed to do after hearing this verdict? Those who tortured Raihan have fled," she said.
She said none of the accused had been granted bail while the Awami League government was in power.
"But in 2025, after the arguments in the case had concluded, how did the first three accused manage to secure bail? How were they able to flee after being released on bail?" she asked.
According to court sources, Akbar, the prime accused in the murder case, was granted bail by the High Court on 4 August 2025 and released from prison on 10 August.
Although his bail was subsequently suspended, he remains absconding and has not surrendered to the lower court.
Raihan, 34, died on 11 October 2020 after being taken to the Bandar Bazar police outpost under Sylhet Metropolitan Police and allegedly tortured overnight on 10 October.
His wife filed a case under the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act. An investigation later found evidence of torture, while several police personnel were suspended or withdrawn from duty following the incident.
The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) arrested three accused, including constable Harun. Akbar was arrested near the Kanaighat border on 9 November 2020.
The PBI submitted a charge sheet against six people on 5 May 2021. The accused are Akbar, assistant sub-inspector Ashik Elahi, constable Harunur Rashid, constable Titu Chandra Das, sub-inspector Hasan Uddin and journalist Abdullah Al Noman, a relative of Akbar. The trial began on 30 September 2021.