The High Court on Tuesday gave a two-month time limit to the high-powered probe committee to investigate the death of Sultana Jasmine in the custody of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Naogaon.
The HC bench comprising Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Muhammad Mahbub Ul Islam passed the order on Tuesday following a petition filed by the state counsels.
Advocate Manoj Kumar Bhowmick appeared for the writ in the court. On the other hand, Deputy Attorney General Samarendra Nath Biswas heard on behalf of the state.
During the hearing, Deputy Attorney General Samarendra Nath Biswas told the court: "A high-level committee has been formed following an order of the High Court. The committee visited the site and collected data. There are other side works. At least two months needed to complete the investigation.”
Then the petitioner lawyer Manoj Kumar Bhowmick said: "They formed the committee after one month and two days of the court's order. They wasted a lot of time here. It will not be right to give two months.”
At this time, the court said to the deputy attorney general: "We are giving only two months. The investigation must be completed within this period. It is a sensitive case. Time extension will not be repeated.”
The court then granted two months to complete the investigation.
On April 5, the High Court directed the authorities concerned to form a high powered body to investigate the death of Sultana Jasmine in the custody of RAB.
The court also ordered inclusion of a judicial official of the rank of district judge and a chief judicial magistrate in the committee.
The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Muhammad Mahbub Ul Islam passed the orders after hearing the writ petition in this regard.
The cabinet secretary was asked to execute the directives. The court asked the authorities concerned to withdraw the RAB personnel from duty who arrested Jasmine.
On March 22, 45-year-old Jasmine, an office assistant at Chandipur union land office of Naogaon Sadar upazila, was detained from Muktirmor area of Naogaon city by RAB and she died at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on March 24.
Following widespread criticism over the death of Jasmine, lawyer Manoj drew attention of the HC after submitting newspaper reports regarding the issue on March 27.
On March 28, a petition was submitted in connection with the custodial death following an HC directive.
