The main opposition Awami League (AL) yesterday in parliament demanded forming a 10-member parliamentary body headed by the speaker to investigate the incident of arson at former president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury's Baridhara house on April 30.

"It was not an accident. The act of setting fire was done using gun powder with an aim to assassinate the former president and his family," Suranjit Sengupta, parliamentary affairs adviser to the leader of the opposition, said adding that the committee would visit the spot and a discussion would be held in parliament following the findings of their visit.

The 10-member committee will comprise lawmakers, five each from the government and the opposition, he proposed.

Earlier in the morning, the AL parliamentary delegation visited former president and also Bikalpo Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) chief B Chowdhury's house 'Mayabi'.

The delegation included Deputy

Leader of the Opposition in the Jatiya Sangsad Advocate Abdul Hamid, AL presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim MP, Col (retd) Faruk Khan MP, opposition whip Ashraf Ali MP and former lawmaker Rahmatullah, says a BDB press release.

BDB Organising Secretary Mahi B Chowdhury MP showed them the damaged parts of the house.

The delegation members said the alliance government would have to take all the responsibilities in this regard, if it fails to track down and punish the culprits.

Suranjit, also a presidium member of the AL, expressed his regret, as the government did not arrest anyone in this connection.

Abdul Hamid said the house was set on fire in a planned way as it was proved that the blaze was not originated from electric short circuit, rather gun powder or similar chemical was used for it.

A mysterious fire in the Baridhara house of former president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury on April 30 gutted cash and valuables on the ground and first floor of the house.