HC orders formation of high powered body to probe Jesmine’s death

The High Court (HC) on Wednesday directed the authorities concerned to form a high powered body to investigate the death of Sultana Jesmine in the custody of Rapid Action Battalion (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 committee will submit its report within 60 days, reports UNB.

The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Muhammad Mahbub Ul Islam passed the orders after hearing a writ petition in this regard.

The Cabinet secretary was asked to execute the directives. The court asked the authorities concerned to withdraw those Rab personnel from duty who who arrested Jesmine.

The court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why detaining Jesmine is not illegal.

Defendant counsel Manoj Kumar Bhowmick stood for the petitioner while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin represented the state during the hearing.

Earlier on March 22, 45-year-old Jesmine, 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 two days on March 24.

Following widespread criticism over the death of Jesmine, lawyer Manoj drew attention of the HC after submitting newspaper reports regarding the issue on March 27.

Later on March 28, a petition was submitted in connection with the custodial death following an HC directive.