Innocent 80-year-old man wrongly jailed in Patuakhali, Bangladesh
Victim Habibur Rahman Collected
Police say the mistake occurred as the name of the accused’s father and of the innocent man were the same
Habibur Rahman, an innocent 80-year-old man was wrongly sent to jail in a case of mistaken identity.
Police picked him from his home in Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali instead of the real convict who had been found guilty in a cheque dishonour case filed by an NGO.
The real convict, having the same, had been awarded one-year jail sentence and a fine of Tk2.4 lakh in absentia on March 25, 2018 by Patuakhali Joint District Sessions Judge’s Court.
Acting on the arrest warrant after almost two years later, police arrested and sent the 80-year-old innocent Habibur Rahman, who had no connection with the case, to jail on October 4 last week.
Police say the mistake occurred as the father’s name of the accused and the innocent man were same too.
Police say the mistake occurred as the name of the accused’s father and of the innocent man were the same
Habibur Rahman, an innocent 80-year-old man was wrongly sent to jail in a case of mistaken identity.
Police picked him from his home in Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali instead of the real convict who had been found guilty in a cheque dishonour case filed by an NGO.
The real convict, having the same, had been awarded one-year jail sentence and a fine of Tk2.4 lakh in absentia on March 25, 2018 by Patuakhali Joint District Sessions Judge’s Court.
Acting on the arrest warrant after almost two years later, police arrested and sent the 80-year-old innocent Habibur Rahman, who had no connection with the case, to jail on October 4 last week.
Police say the mistake occurred as the father’s name of the accused and the innocent man were same too.
Al-Amin, assistant sub-inspector of Galachipa police station, said they arrested Habibur Rahman and produced him before the court acting on an arrest warrant issued by the court. “But later I found out that he is not the real accused. I have made a mistake. It is very unfortunate.”
Md Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of the same police station, said ASI Al-Amin arrested the old man as his name and father’s name matched with the real accused. “We have already sent a letter to the authorities concerned to rectify the matter, and trying to release the innocent old man immediately.”
According to the case statement, Md Habibur Rahman, son of Nur Mohammad Master of Mujib Nagar Road and owner of Nahar Garments at Sadar Road area, took out a loan of Tk1.2 lakh from Brac for his business on July 6, 2012.
Habibur deposited a cheque for the loan amount in his own account at Uttara Bank’s Galachipa branch as security in favour of Brac. As Habibur did not repay the loan in time, Brac authorities deposited the cheque — provided by Habibur Rahman — to the bank on April 10, 2013 but there were insufficient funds.
On June 19, 2013, Brac authorities filed a case against Habibur with the district court as he did not repay the loan and even denied taking a loan from the NGO.
Meanwhile, the main accused Habibur Rahman closed his business in Sadar Road adjacent to Galachipa about five years ago and started a new business on Mahila College Road.
Dhaka Tribune
