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GRENADE ATTACKS

Investigators still in the dark

But they are sure most grenades were thrown from ground

Staff Correspondent
Five days into the deadly grenade attack on an Awami League rally on Saturday, investigators are still trying to find out how the assailants threw the grenades and carried out the subsequent gun attack.
They are however 'almost certain' most of the grenades were hurled from areas close by the rally venue on Bangabandhu Avenue and a few from City Bhaban, sources close to the investigation said.
A top official of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is on the case, said their primary investigation reveals the grenade-equipped assailants split themselves into five groups. The CID investigated all previ-
ous bomb blasts but could not solve the cases.
Two groups took position in City Bhaban and Ramna Bhaban opposite the AL headquarters and one in the alley between the two buildings, while two other groups positioned themselves on the buildings on the western and eastern side of the party headquarters.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Daily Star two squads of gunmen were on the western and eastern side of AL President Sheikh Hasina's bullet- proof sports utility vehicle to carry out the near-simultaneous gun attack.
The position and the subsequent gun attack suggest that another team coordinated the entire
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operations, he believed.
A nine-member investigation team from five intelligence agencies yesterday went to Sudha Sadan, Hasina's house at Dhanmondi, to examine the bulletproof vehicle riddled with bullets and pierced by grenade splinters. They however did not talk to Hasina neither did they question anyone.
The team also examined the truck, which was used as dais for Saturday's rally, at the Police Control Room yesterday.
The case was transferred to the CID yesterday, a day after the Detective Branch (DB) was tasked with probing the grisly incident. Assistant Superintendent of Police, CID, Abdur Rashid has been assigned as the Investigation Officer (IO) of the case.
The team that visited Sudha Sadan includes Ruhul Amin, special superintendent of police (SSP) of CID, Major Mamun of Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), Major Ahsan Ilahee of National Security Intelligence (NSI), Major Rafiq of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), Additional Deputy Commissioner of DB Shahidul Haque Bhuiyan and Investigation Officer Rashid.
SSP Amin said they have collected splinters and bullets and gathered evidence from the spot for the experts to have a look at them but refused to make further comments. "The investigation is at the initial stage, we are trying to unearth the motive," he said.
The investigators have talked to a number of people, in particular shopkeepers of the markets on Bangabandhu Avenue, and would talk to AL leaders and activists.