HC asks govt to report on taken steps by June 18

The High Court yesterday ordered the government to inform it by June 18 about the steps taken over the recent death of a tea vendor in Savar due to "torture" in police custody.
In response to a writ petition filed by ZI Khan Panna on behalf of the rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra, the court also asked for the probe report by the date.
Family members of the victim, Md Ripon Miah, 26, of Ashulia, earlier said Ripon was tortured to death for "ransom", but police claimed he died in a road accident, according to a report published in The Daily Star on May 23.
Ripon's wife Sathi Akter alleged that police picked up Ripon from Nabinagar around 10:30pm on May 21 when the couple were crossing a road.
Later, the cops demanded Tk 1,000 from Sathi. While trying to arrange the money, she was informed that Ripon had been admitted to Gonoshasthaya Kendra hospital. Sathi rushed to the hospital to see her husband dead.
A three-member committee, led by Shyamol Kumar Mukherjee, additional police superintendent of Dhaka, has been formed for investigation.
Yesterday, the HC issued a rule upon the government to explain why abuse of power by police in connection with Ripon's death should not be declared illegal.
The petition was filed on the basis of reports published in newspapers, including The Daily Star.