CPB Rally Blasts
No progress in investigation
Investigators are yet to make any headway in the investigation into the bomb blasts at a Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) rally 11 years ago at city's Paltan Maidan.
Criminal Investigation Department's (CID) detectives are not sure when the investigation might be completed.
Five people were killed and 50 others injured when bombs exploded at the rally on January 20, 2001. CPB President Manjurul Ahsan Khan filed a case accusing unknown attackers.
CPB general secretary Muzahidul Islam Selim expressed his dissatisfaction over the CID's lack of progress in more than a decade. He blamed the government for a lack of sincerity in the matter.
“There is no progress due to reluctance on part of the law enforcers as well as the government,” he said.
Inspector Mrinal Kanti Saha, the investigation officer (IO) of the case, told The Daily Star he is trying his best to complete the investigation as soon as possible.
Police arrested 12 people following the blasts in 2001. CID submitted a final report before the court in January 2003 during the BNP led four-party alliance regime. The report stated that correct, impartial or reliable evidence was not found to prove the charges against the men arrested.
On January 27 of 2005, the court directed the IO for a reinvestigation following a petition filed by the complainant.
In this phase of investigation, CID showed nine leaders and activists of Harkat-ul-Jihad al Islami (Huji) already arrested in connection with other militant activities as arrested.
They are Arif Hassan Sumon, Shahadat Ullah Jewel, Maulana Abu Taher, Islamic Democratic Party Convener Maulana Sheikh Abdus Salam, Arif Hassan Sumon, Mufti Abdul Hannan, Abu Zandal, Mufti Moyeen and Dhaka City Corporation Ward Councillor Ariful Islam Arif, also a BNP leader. All are in custody at present.
Of them, Abu Zandal, Mufti Hannan and Moyeen have already confessed their involvement. CID officials said the men stated that they made the bomb attacks on the rally as the CPB does not believe in Islam. They also said 11 Huji leaders and activists took part in the attack.
The others are yet to be identified or arrested.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments