Anisul, who had been suffering from mental health problems, was admitted to Mind Aid Hospital in Adabor around 11:45am on 9 November 2020. He died shortly afterwards, allegedly after being beaten and restrained by hospital staff.
Anisul Karim Shipon. Photo: Courtesy
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Anisul Karim Shipon. Photo: Courtesy
The trial over the death of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Anisul Karim Shipon at a Dhaka private hospital in 2020 remains at the witness testimony stage, more than six years after he allegedly died following an assault by hospital staff.
Anisul, who had been experiencing mental health problems, was taken to Mind Aid Hospital in Adabor around 11:45am on 9 November 2020. He died shortly after admission, allegedly after hospital employees beat and restrained him. His father, Faizuddin Ahmed, filed a murder case with Adabor Police Station.
The case is pending before the court of Dhaka’s Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Alina Akter. The next hearing is scheduled for 18 November after no witnesses appeared on 7 October.
So far, only two witnesses – Anisul’s father and brother Rezaul Karim – have testified. Faizuddin gave his deposition on 11 March 2024 and Rezaul on 12 July that year. No further testimony has been recorded. The court issued non-bailable arrest warrants against several witnesses on 8 March after they failed to appear.
State prosecutor Zahirul Islam (Kayum) told The Business Standard that repeated witness absences had delayed the proceedings. Police initially submitted a charge sheet against 15 people on 8 March 2022. Anisul’s family objected to the omission of psychiatrist Nusrat Farzana, alleging her involvement, and his father sought a fresh investigation. The court assigned the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to investigate.
On 30 November 2022, PBI submitted another charge sheet against 15 people, including Abdullah Al Mamun, registrar of the National Institute of Mental Health. The investigator recommended dropping Mind Aid director Muhammad Niaz Morshed, who had died, and Nusrat Farzana, citing insufficient evidence against her.
The court framed charges against 15 accused on 12 September 2023. All are currently on bail.
What the charge sheet says
The charge sheet says Anisul had become distressed over delays in his departmental promotion and had grown unusually quiet and withdrawn three to four days before the incident. His family decided to seek psychiatric care.
His brother-in-law contacted Al Mamun the previous day. Al Mamun allegedly advised the family to take Anisul to Mind Aid, where he regularly practised, citing shortcomings in services and staffing at the public institute.
Anisul was taken to the National Institute of Mental Health around 8am on 9 November. Al Mamun allegedly recommended Mind Aid and contacted its director Arif Mahmud Joy. Anisul arrived at the private hospital around 11:30am and was behaving normally, according to the charge sheet.
Around 11:40am, hospital director Arif Mahmud took Anisul upstairs on the pretext of offering him a cigarette. Arif, along with Redwan Sabbir, Masud Khan, Zubayer Hossain, Tanvir Hasan, Tanif Molla, Sajib Chowdhury, Asim Kumar Pal, Liton Ahmed and Saiful Islam, then took him to a second-floor room, saying they would provide treatment.
The charge sheet alleges that the staff beat Anisul and forced him to the floor. Masud Khan and Tanvir Hasan sat on his back, while Asim restrained his hands behind him. Sajib struck his neck with an elbow, and Tanif Molla hit his neck and head before pressing down on his head. Liton, Zubayer and Saiful held down his legs and body. Anisul eventually became unresponsive.
Anisul joined the police through the 31st Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination.
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