No progress in finding fire source

Speakers at a views exchange meeting at Dhaka Reporters' Unity yesterday, organised on the occasion of the 71st birth anniversary of former Ganotantri Party president Nurul Islam, who died in a mysterious house fire in the capital on December 3, 2008. Photo: Focus Bangla

Over three and a half years into the death of former Ganotantri Party president Nurul Islam in a fire incident, no significant progress has been made to unearth the cause behind the fire, said Nurul's frustrated widow and political associates yesterday.
Nurul Islam, a nominee of the Awami League-led grand alliance at the last parliamentary election for Noakhali-1 constituency, died 36 hours after suffering from burns in the mysterious fire at his Lalmatia apartment on December 3, 2008. His son Tamohar Islam Puchi was burnt alive in the blaze.
Nurul Islam's wife, lawmaker Ruby Rahman, and his associates were talking to journalists at a views exchange meeting in the capital's Dhaka Reporters' Unity marking his 71st birth anniversary.
“Despite the government's assurance to hold a fair probe and trial, we see no progress in the investigation. We are frustrated due to the investigation team's lack of sincerity in completing the probe,” said Ruby Rahman.
Expressing frustration over the investigation's slow pace, they questioned the role of the investigators, accusing them of being negligent in taking some important clues into consideration.
One of the clues that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had not taken into account was that no plastic object or clothes were burnt in the fire, they said.
The investigation officer of the case, CID Inspector Shahinur Bari, told The Daily Star that the investigators had noted all possible clues and were carrying out the investigation with the help of the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
Workers' Party of Bangladesh President Rashed Khan Menon urged the home minister to clarify the ministry's stance over the investigation delay and urged the government to take effective steps in this regard.
Ruby Rahman hoped that the government would ensure the completion of the investigation and trial within this year.
Prof Syed Manzoorul Islam of Dhaka University urged the prime minister to monitor the investigation progress herself.