HC orders to probe Jesmin’s death in RAB custody
The High Court has directed the Cabinet Division secretary to form a high-powered committee to investigate the death of Sultana Jesmin in Rapid Action Battalion's custody.
The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Muhammad Mahbub Ul Islam on Wednesday passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed over the death.
The court asked to include two judges of Naogaon in the committee and submit the probe report within two months.
Besides, the court directed authorities concerned to remove the on-duty RAB members during the woman's detention and whole the incident from their current duties and bring them to the elite force's headquarters while the investigation.
Today Attorney General Abu Mohammad (AM) Amin Uddin and Deputy Attorney General Samarendra Nath Bishwas presented the state in the hearing while writ petitioner lawyer Manoj Kumar Bhowmick stood for the writ.
In the hearing, the attorney general presented an autopsy report and local investigation report of Jesmin's body before the court while the writ petitioner sought an investigation led by a retired justice of the High Court into the death.
Lawyer Manoj Kumar also upheld the matter of no case filing over the incident before the court and prayed for measures in this regard.
Read More: Jesmin’s death in RAB custody: Autopsy report submitted to HC
Earlier on March 22, the Rapid Action Battalion members detained Jesmin, an office assistant at Chandipur union land office in Sadar upazila of Naogaon.
On March 24, she died at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH).
RAB claimed they held the woman for interrogation about an allegation of forgery raised against her.
After detention, she fell sick. She was first taken to Naogaon Sadar Hospital and then, to RMCH where she passed away.
But her relatives alleged she died due to the torture in RAB custody.
It was learned after her death, joint secretary Enamul Haque filed a case against her with Rajpara Police Station in Rajshahi under the Digital Security Act on March 23 afternoon.
Her so-called associate and mobile banking agent Al Amin was also named in the lawsuit.
FH/SU
