The High Court today directed the cabinet secretary to form a high-powered committee, including chief judicial magistrate of Naogaon and a judicial officer nominated by the district judge, to investigate detention of Sultana Jasmine, her death and other relevant issues.

The HC also ordered the government to withdraw the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) officials who were involved in picking up Sultana and attach them to the Rab Headquarters for the sake of transparency and neutrality in the investigation.

The probe committee has been ordered the submit the report before the court in 60 days.

The court also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why the Sultana's detention by Rab officials without any case should not be declared illegal and unconstitutional.

In the rule, the court asked the officials concerned to show causes as to why they should not be directed to take action against the Rab members who picked up Sultana.

The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Muhammad Mahbub Ul Islam issued the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Monoj Kumar Bhaumik.

Sultana, an employee of a union-level land office in Naogaon, died in the custody of Rab-5 after suffering brain haemorrhages.