A six-member inquiry commission, led by a former judge, has been formed to investigate the violence that erupted around the National Citizen Party (NCP) rally in Gopalganj on July 16.
Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, confirmed the development on Thursday. He stated that the commission has been formed under Section 3 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1956, to conduct a full investigation into the incidents.
The commission is chaired by Dr. Md. Abu Tariq, a former Supreme Court judge and a veteran freedom fighter. Other members include Khondker Md. Mahabubur Rahman, additional secretary of the Public Security Division; Md. Saiful Islam, additional secretary of the Law and Justice Division and a senior district and sessions judge; Brigadier General Shahidur Rahman Osmani, a commander; Sardar Nurul Amin, additional inspector general and director of the Central Police Hospital; and Dr. Sazzad Siddiqui, chairperson of the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Dhaka.
The commission’s scope encompasses identifying the root causes of the incident, determining the individuals or organizations responsible for the attack on the NCP rally, and recommending legal action against those found culpable. It also includes analyzing related events such as assaults on the district jail and other government installations, as well as assessing broader public safety threats. Additionally, the commission is tasked with proposing measures to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.
According to the commission, the pre-scheduled NCP rally on July 16 in Gopalganj came under organized attack by members and supporters of the banned Chhatra League and the outlawed Awami League. In response, local authorities imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. As the situation failed to normalize, a curfew was declared and armed forces were deployed under “In Aid to Civil Power.” The events resulted in casualties and led to attacks on several government installations, including the district jail.
The commission is empowered to include additional members as necessary. The Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs will provide secretarial and logistical support, fund the commission’s expenses, and assign government personnel to assist in the inquiry.
The commission has been instructed to submit a detailed report with findings and recommendations to the relevant ministry within three weeks.