At the press conference, Sajid's father Abdur Rouf lamented finding no headway to the murder case although several cases were filed and several investigations were conducted in this regard, he said.

Police arrested Sajid on suspicion from Gaibandha Railway Station on May 18 last year. They suspected that he possessed firearms and took seven days remand from a magistrate court for intensive interrogation.

Sajid died in police custody on the third day of remand on May 21. Police recorded it as a suicidal death case and employed sub-inspector (SI) Yusuf Ali as investigation officer of the case.

But, the victim's father filed a counter murder case against SI Yusuf Ali alleging that his son Sajid had been killed following police torture while on remand.

Later, Gaibandha Nagorik Committee convener Aminul Islam Golap and victim's elder brother Abdul Majed Sarker filed two separate cases accusing 12 persons on June 12. The accused included OC Noor Alam, SI Sajjad Hossain, SI Abu Yusuf, SI Masud Rana, SI Fahima Haider and constables Abdul Matin, Abdul Bari, Emdadul, Mizanur and Dulal Chandra. Police authorities suspended all the accused.

The court asked the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the cases. CID conducted investigations on several occasions.

But the case was diverted to another direction to protect the culprits at the instigation of Gaibandha district BNP president Hamidul Huq Channa and his close associate Delwer Hossain Dilu, victim's father alleged.

All but SI Abu Yusuf are now in service in different police stations as the police authorities have withdrawn their suspension orders, he said.