Probe completed, charge-sheet soon: police

Investigation into the death of Senior ASP Anisul Karim at Mind Aid Psychiatry and De-Addiction Hospital has progressed well, and police will submit the charge-sheet soon, according to law enforcers.

Police wanted to submit it by this month, but a few witnesses are yet to give their statements. After taking statements, they will submit the charge-sheet as soon as possible, Faruk Mollah, inspector (operation) of Adabor Police Station, who is investigating the case, told The Daily Star.

Faruk said they have already informed the witnesses. As they stay outside Dhaka and are working there, it is taking time.

Asked whether the hospital's shareholders and directors will be charged, the officer said, "Of course. They can't avoid the responsibilities, as the hospital was running without permission. The specialised private facility was mismanaged, and was operating without skilled manpower and necessary equipment. The victim would not die if it was managed properly."

Faruk said, already six of the 15 accused have given confessional statement before a Dhaka court. Police could not arrest two hospital directors, as they live abroad.

Hailing from Gazipur, Anisul, appointed as a police officer in the 31st special BCS, was working for Barishal Metropolitan Police (traffic). Earlier, he had served Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Rapid Action Battalion, and Police Headquarters.

On November 9 last year, Anisul's relatives took him to National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital (NIMH) to treat his mental illness. For better treatment, they took Anisul to Mind Aid.

Analysing the hospital's CCTV footage, Anisul was seen being dragged into a soundproof room by several staffers and thrown to the ground by six employees during the admission procedure.

Two employees dressed in blue garbs held his leg and two others hit him with their elbows. Anisul's hands were tied behind his back with a piece of cloth.

There were no doctors in the soundproof room at the time, police said.

On November 10, Anisul's father Faijuddin Ahmed filed a case with Adabor Police Station, accusing 15 people, including five hospital shareholders and directors, for murdering his 35-year-old son.

Police have so far arrested thirteen people, including three directors, in connection with the case. The three directors are Dr Md Niaz Morshed, Dr Abdullah Al Mamun and Fatema Khatun Moyna.

The six accused who gave confessional statements are marketing manager Arif Mahmud Joy, pharmacist Tanvir Hasan, kitchen chef Masud Khan, and ward staff Asim Chandra Pal, Tanif Mollah and Sajib Chowdhury.

Earlier, expressing distrust over the police investigation, psychiatrists demanded a judicial probe into the officer's death and arrest of their colleague NIMH Registrar Dr Abdullah Al Mamun.

Police claimed that the doctor had referred Anisul from NIMH to Mind Aid, as he received 20 percent commission for such referrals.

Dr Mamun also ran a private practice at the facility, for which he was paid separately, said police, adding that several other doctors of NIMH and other government hospitals were also maintaining private practices at Mind Aid and referred patients there.

The other directors -- Sakhawat Hossain, and Sazzad Amin -- are still on the run.