DHAKA, June 23 (Xinhuanet by Pan Xiaozhu ) -- Two experts from Interpol and a special agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States arrived Dhaka Wednesday to re-investigate the grenade attacks on an opposition's rally in the capital on August 21 last year.
Interpol members Marc H Beauchemin, a terrorism expert, and Grey Lee George, a ballistic expert, and FBI special agent Trung Vu were reportedly to begin their work Thursday.
They arrived Dhaka at the invitation of the government of Bangladesh following the reported disclosure of important clues about the deadly grenade attacks on the rally by the arrested top terrorist Arman Khan, former Dhaka City Corporation Ward Commissioner Mokhlesur Rahman and another terrorist George Mia, who are under interrogation by different law enforcing agencies. The rally was organized by the main opposition the Awami League.
During the interrogation, Arman, one of the top 23 cold-blooded killers and terrorists operating in the capital, who was arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion a few weeks ago, reportedly gave some vital information relating to the August 21 grenade attacks.
Following his interrogation police arrested two prime suspects -Mokhlesur Rahman and George Mia.
In the August 21 grenade attacks 23 people were killed including Awami League's Women Affairs Secretary Ivy Rahman, over 300 others injured. Awami League chief and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was narrowly escaped the attacks.
Interpol members visited Bangladesh three times after the August 21 attacks. They visited the spot, examined the car of Awami League chief and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Sheikh Hasina and the video footage and submitted a report where they said that the attackers used Arges brand anti-personnel grenades. The investigators, however, failed to detect the motive and people behind the attack even 10 months after the carnage.
But after Rapid Action Battalion arrested Arman, one of 23 most wanted criminals, on June 3, the government said he revealed "crucial clues" about the carnage.
Official sources said the Interpol and FBI agents will not probe the incident but just assist local investigators in their investigation.
Observers here believed that the government aims to create an impartial impression about the charge sheet by inviting the foreign experts at the last stage of the investigation.
Awami League, however, blamed that the government is trying to divert the investigation as they said the government itself master-minded the August 21 grenade attack.
Awami League presidium member Zillur Rahman Wednesday said that the government is apparently showing its sincerity by bringing Interpol under international pressure. But all evidence of the carnage has been destroyed over the last 10 months, he claimed.
The current probe into the August 21 grenade attack is nothing but eyewash that aims to link the opposition leaders and workers to the carnage, he alleged.
The government is now forcing notorious criminal Arman to give statement accusing Awami League of the attack, he said. Enditem |