The High Court wants to know what measures the authorities have taken over Monday's reported death of a young man in police custody and subsequent clash that left dozens injured in Haragachh union of Rangpur.
The bench of Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman issued the order on Tuesday after Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua brought the matter to their attention.
The court will hold a hearing on the issue on Wednesday, Barua added.
On Monday night, at least 60 people, including policemen, were injured as clashes broke out in and around Haragachh police station in Rangpur after news of a man's reported death in police custody spread.
According to witnesses and locals, Haragachh police arrested suspected drug dealer Tajul Islam from Notun Bazar area Monday evening. A handcuffed Tajul was allegedly tortured to death on the spot, prompting the locals to launch demonstrations.
Dismissing the claims, Rangpur Metropolitan Police's Deputy Commissioner Maruf Hossain told reporters early on Tuesday that the “drug addict” had died of a “heart attack."
Two cases have been started — one for obstructing police duty and vandalizing the police station and the other over Tajul’s unnatural death, he said.
Meanwhile, locals alleged that police were trying to frame innocent people in their cases.
Some witnesses claimed police had frisked Tajul but could not find anything, yet he was handcuffed and beaten to death.
During the clashes, police had fired rubber bullets and tear gas shells at the protesters and finally managed to bring the situation under control at around 3am Tuesday.
Rejecting police's claim that Tajul died of a heart attack, the protesters have demanded that his autopsy be performed in the presence of a magistrate to ensure no foul play.
At least 48 people have died under different circumstances at the hands of law enforcers in custody of law enforcers till September this year and, of them, at least six died in custody, according to Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK).
Meanwhile, 238 people died in custody last year. At least 222 of them were victims of extrajudicial killings, while the rest died after reportedly being tortured, according to ASK.