Brutal Abuse Allegations at Gaibandha Rehabilitation Centre

A harrowing case of systemic violence has emerged from Gaibandha, where a 37-year-old mentally unstable man, Murshid Haqqani, was allegedly subjected to severe physical torture while under the care of a prominent rehabilitation facility. The victim’s elder brother, Aurung Haqqani, filed a formal written complaint with the Gaibandha Sadar Police Station on Saturday afternoon, sparking an investigation into the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Gana Unnayan Kendra (GUK).

A Sanctuary Turned Prison

Murshid Haqqani was admitted to the GUK Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre on 28 August 2025 after his mental health began to deteriorate. Initially, the facility allowed regular family visitations. However, as months passed, the staff reportedly began to obfuscate his condition, frequently denying access to his relatives under various administrative pretexts.

The situation reached a breaking point on 11 February 2026. When family members insisted on seeing Murshid, staff members behaved erratically before finally relenting. Upon seeing him, his relatives were horrified to find him covered in lacerations, swelling, and deep bruises, particularly across his nose and limbs. Sensing immediate danger, the family settled his accounts and removed him from the facility at once.

Revelations of Barbaric Torture

Once safely at home, Murshid provided a chilling account of the ordeals he faced inside the “rehabilitation” centre. He alleged that staff members would drag him into a semi-permanent structure, gag him with cloth to stifle his screams, and beat him mercilessly with iron rods.

“They tied my feet with ropes and hung me upside down from the window grilles until I lost consciousness,” the victim recounted, detailing injuries to his back, thighs, knees, and palms.

The complaint names five specific individuals responsible for the daily operations of the centre:

Institutional Response and Legal Action

Murshid is currently undergoing treatment at Gaibandha General Hospital. The Chief Executive of Gana Unnayan Kendra, M. Abdus Salam, expressed his dismay after being sent video evidence of the injuries. “It is deeply regrettable,” he stated via a message. “Despite being ill for the last four days, I am looking into this immediately and will take action against those responsible.”

Abdullah Al Mamun, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Gaibandha Sadar Police Station, confirmed that a rigorous investigation is underway. “We have received the written complaint and will take necessary legal steps to ensure justice for the victim,” he told reporters.