BNP forms 4 probe bodies

The BNP has formed four probe committees to investigate the recent attacks on Hindus, countrywide violence, extrajudicial killing, human rights violation by law enforcers and oppression on 18-party alliance men.
BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir formed the committees on Wednesday night. The committees will start work next week, Shamimur Rahman Shamim, assistant office secretary of BNP, told The Daily Star yesterday.
Party sources said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia approved the committees after a meeting with Bangladesh Sammilito Peshajibi Parishad at her Gulshan office on Wednesday night.
There has been a lot of pressure on the party from home and abroad regarding the involvement of the BNP-led 18-party alliance men in the communal attacks during and after the January 5 parliamentary election.
By forming the probe bodies, the BNP wants to give a clear message to all that it is against any communal attack. Besides, the party also plans to inform diplomats in Dhaka about recent raids against the alliance activists, according to BNP insiders.
“The BNP has formed the committees with professionals from different communities to make sure that the fact and miscreants behind the attacks were identified. The teams will also collect data on the brutal attacks of the joint force on the alliance men. The committees will submit their reports to party high-ups,” mentioned Shamim.
A seven-member committee, led by BNP standing committee member Zamir Uddin Sircar, will visit Sirajganj, Bogra and Gaibandha districts. BNP chairperson's adviser ASM Abdul Halim will lead a five-member committee to Nilphamari, Dinajpur and Thakurgaon.
Another seven-member body headed by Ruhul Amin Gazi, convenor of Bangladesh Sammilito Peshajibi Parishad, will travel to Satkhira, Jessore, Kushtia and Meherpur, while BNP chief's adviser Shaukat Mahmud will lead a six-member committee to Comilla, Chandpur, Laxmipur and Chittagong.