The government has formed a six-member probe commission to investigate into the 16 July attack and subsequent violence in Gopalganj centring on a scheduled rally of the National Citizen Party (NCP) that left at least five people dead and dozens injured.
Chief Adviser's Press Wing in a statement issued on Thursday said, the commission, led by former Justice Md Abu Tariq as president, has been assigned to investigate the violence, deterioration of the law and order situation, attacks on various government entities, including the district jail, and disruption of civil security, as well as other related incidents that occurred in Gopalganj in the wake of the attack.
Members of the commission are— Additional Secretary of the Public Security Division Khandaker Md Mahbubur Rahman, Additional Secretary of Law and Justice Division (Senior District and Sessions Judge) Md Saiful Islam, Commander of 21st Infantry Division Brig Gen Shahidur Rahman Osmani, Director of Dhaka Central Police Hospital (Additional Inspector General of Police) Sardar Nurul Amin and Chairman of Peace and Conflict Studies Department of Dhaka University Sazzad Siddiqui.
The CA Press Wing said the commission has been formed based on the recommendation of the investigation committee formed over the Gopalganj violence.
The commission will identify the individuals/organisations responsible for the attack on the public rally of the NCP, provide recommendations for taking legal action against the individuals/organisations responsible for the said incident, and provide opinions after analysing the attacks on various government establishments, including the district jail in Gopalganj.
It will also give opinions regarding other related incidents that occurred in the district in the wake of the attack, and regarding disruption of civil security at that time.
In addition, the commission will also issue recommendations on measures required to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents in the future, added the CA Press Wing statement.
The Commission, if necessary, can include any suitable person as its member and can assign responsibilities to any person.
It will submit an investigation report to the relevant ministry with clear opinions and recommendations on the said issues within three days, added the statement.
Meanwhile, the probe committee reported that on July 16, a scheduled public rally of the NCP came under a planned attack by activists and supporters of banned organisations Bangladesh Chhatra League and the Bangladesh Awami League in Gopalganj district sadar.
To control the law and order situation, the local administration imposed "Section 144" in the district.
Given the unusual situation, a curfew was enforced in the district, and assistance from the armed forces was sought on an "in aid to civil power" basis, resulting in casualties.
In this context, it is necessary to uncover other related incidents, including attacks on various government establishments, including the district jail, in Gopalganj and disruption of civil security in the district at that time, the committee stated.
