Torching of MC College Hostel
Third probe body formed
Previous committees show no progress
Over a week into the torching of 42 rooms of MC College's hostel in Sylhet with two probe bodies showing no progress in identifying the culprits, the home affairs ministry yesterday formed a third investigation committee.
Deputy commissioner (North) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police, Ejaj Ahmed, heading the five-member committee, said they were asked to file a report in two weeks.
On July 8, the ruling party backed Bangladesh Chhatra League activists torched the rooms after clashing with Jamaat-e-Islami backed Shibir activists, leaving some 20 people injured.
Since then, none has been arrested although five cases, including two by BCL, one by Shibir, one by Jubo League and one by the hostel super, had been filed.
Additional District Magistrate Md Shahidul Alam, heading a five-member committee, said the college staff, teachers and students were afraid to identify the culprits.
Vice Principal Prof Md Al Helal Bhuiyan, heading another committee formed by the college authority, mirrored Shahidul's comment.
One member of the committees, requesting anonymity, said video footage and pictures taken by journalists could be used to identify the culprits but there was also pressure from a quarter in the ruling party to protect the attackers.
Addressing a press briefing at Sylhet Circuit House yesterday, minister without portfolio Suranjit Sengupta said the incident should not be considered emotionally and it was not an isolated incident but a result of political conflict.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments