E/CN.4/1991/17 page 8 Bangladesh Letters and Government replies 27. On 6 June 1990 the Special Rapporteur addressed a letter to the Government of Bangladesh transmitting information alleging that several cases of deaths in custody, allegedly as a result of torture, occurred in the country in recent months. The following cases were reported: (a) Shahidul Islam, arrested on 31 May 1989 at his home in Bara Bail Danga village, by the Kotwali Police, Jessore District, on suspicion of being in possession of weapons. He was allegedly tortured on two occasions at the Kotwali District Police Station. On 2 June 1989 he died in hospital. A post-mortem report said that the death was caused by "trauma in different parts of the body"; (b) Ofazuddin, from Laduakunda village, Dhamrai District, was arrested in late June 1989 and charged with murder. After being interrogated and allegedly tortured he became unconscious and was admitted to hospital. He died a month later. A doctor at Dhamrai Hospital stated that when Ofazuddin was brought in he was unconscious and had difficulty in breathing, and that there were wounds on his head, arms and legs. A complaint was reportedly filed and a judicial inquiry was held on 27 September 1989, but the outcome was not reported; (c) Khoka Mia, from Mukuddapur village, Kaharol Sub-Division, was arrested in June 1989 along with a teacher named Animesh Roy and others on unspecified charges and taken to Kaharol Police Station, where they were allegedly beaten up and tortured. Khoka Mia reportedly died as a result of the torture and Animesh Roy suffered from a broken leg. Eight policemen were charged in connection with that case but it was not known whether the trial had taken place; (d) Wazed Ali, a rickshaw puller who had been detained on charges of banditry, died on 7 February 1990 at the Kotwali Police Station, Jessore District, allegedly as a result of beatings and torture. 28. On 9 July 1990 the Government of Bangladesh replied, stating that the allegations were "misconceived, distorted, misleading" and did "not relate to the facts". The Government provided further details about the four cases transmitted to it. With regard to Shahidul Islam it was stated that during his detention he told the law-enforcing agencies that he had been suffering from tuberculosis for some time and accordingly, he was sent to the hospital in Jessore for medical treatment. He died in hospital on 2 June 1989. The post-mortem said "there was no injury or trauma on his body", and the report was submitted to the judicial Magistrate who confirmed the veracity of the post—mortem report. "Though there was no evidence of misbehaviour on the part of the police officer... he was, however, transferred from the Kotwali Police Station by the Police administration." As regards Mr. Ofazuddin, "during the time of his arrest, he tried to flee to escape from the arrest, but the angry public caught him. Unfortunately, due to the emotive nature of the situation, a commotion took place and this resulted in violence and Ofazuddin was injured". In spite of medical treatment he died on 7 August 1989. Mr. Khoka Mia was arrested on 6 June 1989 for his alleged involvement in a robbery. "Regrettably, the police officials were rather rough and manhandled