One year has elapsed but police are yet to complete any single investigation into the 42 cases filed with different police stations in the capital for the May 5 mayhem wreaked by the Hefazat-e-Islam.
Not only that another 14 cases filed in Narayanganj and Chittagong have not seen any progress too.
The Hefazat leaders arrested in connection with the May 5 anarchy secured bail.
Even no action has been taken against Junaid Babunagari, secretary general of the party, who have never appeared before the court since he was granted bail although a number of hearing dates have passed.
A number of investigation officers (IO) said investigations were underway but they were yet to take any decision as they had received no instruction from the high officials.
They said they were waiting for video footage and still pictures of the incidents of that fateful day.
However, the leaders and activists accused in those cases are regularly attending press briefing, conference and rally under the nose of law enforcers.
Those who are accused include Junaid Babunagari, Hefazat Chittagong unit President Mainuddin Ruhi, Joint Secretary General Farid Ullah, Shamsul Alam, Mahibullah Babu, Tazul Islam, Abul Malek Halim, Azizul Haque Islamabadi, Fazlul Haque Zihadi, Harun Izahar, Iliash Osmani, Nur Hossain Kasemi, Mufti Faezullah, Mahfuzul Haque, Golam Uddin Ekram and Rafiqul Islam Madani.
Of the 42 cases the Detective Branch (DB) of police is investigating 15 cases, the DB west team investigating 13 while the DB south team two other cases. Babunagari is accused in 11 cases.
Jahangir Hossain Matubbor, deputy commissioner of the DB (west) police, said: “We are investigating the cases but it will take time as we have to collect evidence from among millions of people gathered at the May 5 rally of the Hefazat.”
When asked how much time it would take he said he could not say right now as charge sheets would be submitted after investigations were over.
After the incident, the DB police took Babunagari and 41 other activists of the Hefazat on remand and gleaned sensational information from them. Besides, BNP standing committee members MK Anwar, Rafiqul Islam Mia and Maudud Ahmed were interrogated too in this connection.
Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of the DB police, too said they would submit charge sheet after the investigations were done.
Apart from DB police, 27 others cases in the capital are being investigated by Motijheel, Paltan and Ramna police officials.
Contacted, Morshed Alam, officer-in-charge of Paltan police station, told the Dhaka Tribune they would start the investigation after the decision of the higher authorities.
Moshiur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Ramna police station, however, said they had made some progress in the investigations of three cases but could not say when they would complete the procedures.
Forman Ali, officer-in-charge of Motijheel police station, said they were waiting for the guideline of the higher authorities.
About the rest 14 cases filed in Narayanganj and Chittagong Sentu Miah, sub-inspector of Hathazari police station, echoing others said it would take time.
Asked, Sazzadur Rahman, additional police super (general) of Narayanganj, said investigations of the cases were underway and hoped they could submit charge sheets shortly but he failed to specifically say when they could complete the process.
In this regard, Hassan Mahmood Khandker, inspector general of police, refuted the allegation of delay in the investigation saying that some cases need evidences, information and statements of witnesses to complete the probe.
Law enforcers are busy collecting information and evidences and soon the reports on the incident could be submitted, he added.
