The family of Hasnat Karim, one of the persons rescued alive after the Holey Artisan Bakery attack in Gulshan, yesterday said they are thinking of seeking legal measures to know Hasnat’s whereabouts.
“He has been missing for nine days; we are worried sick. We want to know where he is now,” Hasnat’s father Rezaul Karim told The Independent yesterday. Hasnat’s father said his son was taken by members of the Detective Branch (DB) of Police for questioning on
July 2. “Since then, we haven’t been able to meet him. For the first few days, we got some calls from him but for the last couple of days we don’t know anything,” he added.
“Police told us that they have released my son but we don’t know his whereabouts. I have already sent letters to the Inspector General of Police and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner,” Rezaul Karim said.
“We believe that he (Hasnat) is still alive and in the custody of law enforcers,” he said adding: “I don’t know what to do … we will go for legal action. If the state has anything to inquire, they can but we have the right to know where our son is,” he added.
Police earlier said they were investigation Hasnat’s alleged involvement in the Gulshan attack as was claimed by many on social media. That is why Hasnat was taken into custody for questioning, they said. However, Police on Sunday claimed that people detained over the Holey Artisan Bakery attack, including Hasnat and Tahmid, were freed.
When contacted, Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Masudur Rahman said, “Everyone rescued from the Gulshan cafe have been released. Nobody is now with us.” He did not give any further details.
According to the law, all arrestees must be told the reason of their arrest and must be given access to counsel. Moreover, the constitution grants every person who has been arrested or detained the right to be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours of the arrest. Detentions beyond that period are illegal without the authority of a magistrate.