Attack on Ghoraghat UNO: Departmental probe body yet to start investigation

The departmental probe body formed over the attack on Ghoraghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Wahida Khanam and her father has yet to start investigation after a passage of five days of its formation.

Earlier on September 3, Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Abdul Wahab Bhuiyan formed a three-member departmental probe body, headed by additional Divisional Commissioner Zakir Hossain, to investigate the incident.

Two other members are Dinajpur Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Asif Mahmud and a representative of Rangpur range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police.

ADM Asif Mahmud, on Monday, said although he knew about the formation of the committee, he did not receive any instruction letter regarding the beginning of the investigation by the committee.

Police have, so far, arrested five people for interrogation in the case filed over the attack on the Ghoraghat UNO and her father Omar Ali, said Ghoraghat Police Station OC Amirul Islam.

"Two people are still being interrogated. We inform the investigating officer of the case about what information we receive  during the interrogation," he said.

Earlier, a Dinajpur court separately granted seven-day remand for each of the three arrestees, including prime accused Asadul Islam, over the attack on UNO Wahida Khanam and her father .

The Detective Branch of police has already interrogated two suspects who are on remand for the attack.

Imam Zafar, DB Police OC and also investigating officer of the case, told The Business Standard that three people have been remanded. They are being questioned on a number of issues. However, nothing can be disclosed right now for the sake of the investigation.

Dinajpur Deputy Commissioner Mahmudul Alam said, "An attack on a UNO means an attack on the state, I think. The UNO has been attacked today, then it will be the deputy commissioner. It must be stopped."

Earlier, injured victim Wahida's elder brother Sheikh Farid Uddin filed a case at around 11:30pm on Thursday against 4-5 unknown people at Ghoraghat Police Station over the incident.

A group of miscreants entered the UNO's government quarter through a ventilator using a ladder between 1:05am to 4:25am on September 3. They attacked Wahida and her father. 

When both of them fainted due to blood loss, the miscreants thought they were dead and fled the spot.