HC grants 2 more months for probe into Sultana’s death in RAB Custody

The High Court on Tuesday granted additional two months to finish the investigation and submit the probe report in the case filed over the death of Sultana Jasmine in RAB custody in Naogaon.

The HC bench consisting of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Muhammad Mahbub-ul-Islam set the new date following a request from deputy attorney general Samarendra Nath Biwas, seeking more time to conclude the investigation.

The court emphasized the sensitivity of the matter and urged to complete the investigation within the given time frame.  

“Two months, but only two months. Do not delay any further,” said the bench.

The writ petitioner lawyer Manoj Kumar Bhowmik opposed the fresh time and said the cabinet secretary had delayed forming the committee by one month after the HC directive issued on April 5.

The DAG requested the extension, stating that the investigation committee had visited the crime scene and gathered evidence.

In the earlier ruling, the High Court ordered the cabinet secretary to form a high-powered committee led by a District and Sessions Judge to investigate the Rapid Action Battalion‍‍`s torture of Sultana Jasmine.

The court ordered the suspension of the RAB members who were involved in the detention of Jasmine for the time being.

The court also issued a ruling questioning the legality of arresting Sultana Jasmine without any formal charges and subsequent actions taken.

On March 25, following Jasmine‍‍`s death, a three-member medical board performed the autopsy at RMCH morgue.

The High Court sought the police report and postmortem report on March 27.

Union land office employee Sultana was detained by RAB members from Muktirmor area of Naogaon city on March 22 morning and died at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on March 24.

However, the elite force denied the allegation of torture. They claimed that the victim was arrested for interrogation as there was an accusation of fraudulence against her.