N’ganj Mosque Explosion: CID set to press ‘exemplary’ charges

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday said it is going to submit an "exemplary" charge sheet by accusing government officials in connection with Narayanganj mosque blast.

"We have almost completed our task and want to submit the charge sheet within one week," said Nasir Uddin Ahmmed, special superintendent of police (SP) of CID in Narayanganj.

"But we need some time to take permission from authorities concerned to accuse any government official. That is why the process is delayed," he said.

"We have prepared the charge sheet in such a way so that it becomes an instance for everyone and no such incident happens further due to negligence in duty," he added while talking to journalists at the conference room of the district's SP office yesterday.

A deadly explosion took place at Baitus Salat Jame Mosque in Pashchim Talla of Narayanganj city on September 4, leaving at least 34 people dead and many others injured.

It is largely believed that the explosion occurred due to gas pipe leakage.

A day later, a sub-inspector of Fatullah Model Police Station filed a case accusing some unnamed persons. Later, the case was handed over to CID for investigation.

Talking to journalists yesterday, CID official Nasir Uddin said the mosque's management committee did not care about public safety and did not take any measure to repair the gas pipe leakage, although they were aware about it.

Furthermore, the mosque's electricity connection was illegal. Its construction work for making it a multi-storey building was going on without any government permission.

"We have found negligence of Titas Gas authorities, DPDC (Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited) and the mosque committee behind the explosion," said Nasir Uddin.

That is why eight officials and employees of Titas, three of DPDC and the mosque management committee president were arrested, he added.

Earlier on Friday night, CID arrested Abdul Gafur (62), president of Baitus Salat Jame Mosque, from Talla Railgate area in the city. He had been absconding since the explosion.

He was arrested on charge of negligence in duty. Later, he was produced before a court that sent him to jail yesterday, said the CID officer.