Sultana's death in custody: Family gives probe body documents, handwritten notes

A high-level committee probing the death of Sultana Jasmine, a Naogaon land office employee, visited Rajshahi today.

Md Mahmudul Hossain Khan, secretary of Coordination and Reforms wing at the Cabinet Division, told our Rajshai staff correspondent that the eight-member committee convened by him began the investigation a day before in Naogaon.

Sultana, an office assistant of Naogaon municipality and Chandipur union land office, died on March 24, two days after she was detained by a team of Rab-5 on her way to work.

Her death triggered criticism and the High Court questioned the authority of Rab in detaining her without any case.

The ministry formed the committee on May 22 and asked it to report in 15 days.

Mahmudul said they talked to Sultana's family members and government staffers in Naogaon.

This morning, they went to Rajshahi circuit house and talked to Enamul Haque, deputy director of local government at the office of Rajshahi's Divisional Commissioner.

They also visited Rajpara Police Station and Rajshahi Medical College Hospital before returning to Naogaon to speak to the family again.

"We are talking to all concerned, and collecting available evidence," Mahmudul said, adding, "Our report will be placed before the High Court."

Sultana's maternal uncle Nazmul Haque Montu said the committee talked to him, Sultana's brother Sultan Mahmud Sohag and her son.

"They listen to us, took our statements, and asked us to read the statements and sign," Montu said.

The family members told the committee of their suspicion that Sultana was subjected to "torture by electric shocks" after her detention, he said.

The family also handed over the committee some documents which Montu claimed revealed that Sultana was being used by Enamul.

The documents include Sultana's bank statement and some had-written notes of Sultana on how she sent money to Enamul, claimed Montu. "We found these documents in her room," he said.

The documents include some 46 notes that had records of transactions of around Tk 24 lakh through different mobile banking services between December 21 last year and February 2 this year. At least 32 of the notes had the name of Haque, Montu said.

In a note, Sultana wrote that Enamul told her to send the money through a different mobile banking service number, Montu said.

Another note suggested that Enamul's wife was also aware of the transactions of money, he said.

Unknown people from different districts including Naogaon, Joypurhat, and Dhaka sent money to her bank account. Within hours of receiving the money, Sultana withdrew the money and sent it to Enamul using a different mobile banking service, Montu claimed.

The Daily Star called Enamul several times for comments but he did not pick up.

At the Naogaon circuit house, the committee members also talked to Delwar Hossain Dulal, Sultana's landlord at Chalkdeb Janakalyanpara. Dulal told the committee that Sultana was watched over for two weeks before she was picked up, sources said.