Polash Kumar Roy, 36, said in a statement before dying that he was set on fire. The same claim is made by his family. Before dying at the Burn Unit of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Polash alleged in an audio recording that two persons set him on fire.
However, Panchagarh district prison claims that the audio clip is fabricated.
Polash Kumar Roy joined the Kohinoor Chemical Company in 2013 and resigned in 2016. In the audio recording before dying, Polash claimed that the owner of Kohinoor Company used him for unethical work, including making false documents.
But since he could not support such unlawful work, he left his job.
In the audio recording, Polash is heard to be saying: “after resigning, the company lodged a Tk. 3.1m embezzlement case against me.”
He also said that Kohinoor Company is abetted by many influential government officials in its unlawful activities.
On 25 March, Polash organised a human chain in Panchagarh, where the attention of the PM was sought to help Polash get reprieve from the embezzlement case. Later, a case was lodged against him for making a slanderous remark on the PM for which he was sent to prison.
Reportedly, Polash was threatened while in prison.
I told the jailer but instead of giving it any importance, he took the side of the influential people, Polash claimed in the audio tape.
On 26 April morning, two persons threw something form a bottle on my body and set me on fire, he is believed to have said in the tape.
The recording was done by Polash’s nephew, Prasenjit Kumar Roy. Prasenjit says: “the statement was recorded half an hour before my uncle died at the intensive care unit.”
Polash’s mother, Mira Rani, is involved in AL politics and was elected vice chairman of Atwari upazila.
“My son was murdered; I want justice for this killing,” she has demanded.
Regarding the audio tape, the jailer said: “this seems manufactured; the issue is being investigated and the truth will be revealed soon.”
Meanwhile, supreme-court lawyer, barrister Sayedul Huq Sumon has lodged a writ asking for judicial inquiry into the death of the Panchagarh lawyer.
No one from the Kohinoor Chemical wanted to talk and the acting OC of Panchagarh thana, says: “no party has lodged a case over this incident.
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