The results of forensics tests conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on samples from the scene of Avijit Roy’s murder are ready, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said yesterday.
DMP Additional Commissioner Monirul Islam said United States federal investigators were in the process of sending the results to Bangladesh.
Asked about the findings, Monirul, who is also the Detective Branch chief, said he had not yet seen the report but had been informed that the 11 samples sent for testing had produced several DNA profiles.
“Once the results arrive, we will be able to match suspects’ DNA with the forensics evidence,” he said.
Monirul said the crime scene evidence will be compared to the DNA of eight suspects currently in custody in connections with various blogger assault and murder cases.
The eight suspects have been identified as Shafiur Rahman Farabi, British citizen Touhidur Rahman, Sadeq Ali, Aminul Mallick, Julhas Biswash, Abul Bashar, Jafran Hasan and Mannan Rahi.
All except Farabi are reportedly members of Ansarullah Bangla Team.
Investigators have collected other clues about the identity of two of Avijit’s killers, Monirul said. “The DNA results will help confirm the identity of those who actually took part in the killing.”
Avijit Roy and his wife Rafida Ahmed Bonya were brutally attacked by machete-wielding extremists on the Dhaka University campus as they were leaving Ekushey Book Fair on February 26 last year.
Avijit later succumbed to his injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Monirul, also the DMP spokesperson, said investigators had been waiting for the FBI’s forensics report to arrive.
He denied that local investigators had run out of leads in the murder that took place in full view of the public in a crowded public place. “Some cases take time to solve. This will be solved even if it takes a decade.”
Avijit’s family has expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of the investigation.
The slain blogger’s father, Professor Ajay Roy, said: “It has been nearly a year now but the case has not been solved. I am not satisfied with the investigation.”
