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BOMB AND GRENADE ATTACKS

Dr Kamal demands a 'truly independent' probe commission

UNB, Dhaka
Eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday demanded a truly independent national commission to conduct a neutral and credible inquiry into all the bomb and grenade attacks.
Talking to UNB yesterday, he said the commission should be headed by a person appointed with concurrence of the opposition and in consultation with eminent citizens including former chief justices.
"The commission will have to be given full and plenary powers to summon any person including members of the government to a public and open inquiry with an
obligation to produce all the evidence that is required," he said.
Besides, the commission should get the support and services of experts from home and abroad, as may be considered by the commission.
Dr Kamal said, "Failure of the government to constitute such a commission and give full support and cooperation to it will prove beyond doubt that it is obstructing investigation and the process of justice."
"The current situation is causing grave concern to all sections of our nation," he added.
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Referring to the prime minister's accusation against the opposition made at a public rally in Barguna on Thursday, Dr Kamal said, "One cannot but express shock at the way the head of the government is making the accusation. It is so unbecoming to the high office."
He said such accusation had vitiated the political atmosphere and rendered impossible an impartial investigation by the concerned state agencies.
Recounting the recent spate of bomb and grenade attacks, he said it amounts to a 'persistent failure on the part of the state and those responsible for ensuring security of life and property of the citizens'.
Mentioning the recent bomb and grenade blasts and seizure of huge cache of illegal arms in Chittagong, Dr Kamal said none of those grisly crimes were followed up by effective investigation or action.
"The national demand for effective law enforcement has been repeatedly ignored," he said, adding, "Then came the unprecedented event of the August 21 when a major grenade assault was launched on the leader of the opposition at a public rally in the heart of the city in broad daylight killing 22 people and wounding hundreds."
Dr Kamal said the demands for effective investigations and action both within the country and internationally have yielded no significant results.
Terming the year 2004 'a year of total failure of law enforcement and of negation of human security in Bangladesh', he said the year 2005 does not hold any promise as on January 27 yet another grenade attack claimed the life of former finance minister, a sitting member of parliament and a widely respected person -- Shah AMS Kibria.
He said a national and international campaign demanding trial of the responsible for the attacks is underway, and citizens throughout the country are united in calling for an effective investigation and a concerted effort to restore security of life and property.
Deploring the attitude of the government, Dr Kamal said the government has failed to respond to the national demand. Instead of treating the current situation as a national problem, they are showing 'a narrow kind of partisanship by blaming the opposition whose leaders and members have been the victims', he added.
He regretted that no progress report of the investigations is being presented in parliament and to the press and public.
Referring to the inquiry committee set up by Supreme Court Bar Association of which he is one of the members, Dr Kamal said despite repeated requests made to those at the highest level of the government,
including the prime minister, it did not get any cooperation from the authorities.
He said the government is showing a callous disregard for the citizens' right to life while security marks an all time low in country's history.
On the latest bomb blasts on Dhaka University campus and at Grameen Bank and Brac offices, he said the nation must be unanimous in bringing about a change. They must demand concrete action and results from the government, and investigations into all the bomb and grenade blasts under a truly independent national inquiry commission.
Dr Kamal said all concerned citizens and democratic forces must come together to uphold the constitution and ensure the rule of law.