New commission to be formed to probe BDR killings: Home Minister

A new commission will be formed to conduct a thorough investigation into the BDR killings, and legal proceedings will proceed based on the commission's recommendations, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said.

He made the remarks after a views-exchange meeting with heads of various departments at the ministry's conference room in the Secretariat on Monday, February 23. He said the matter is also included in the government's election manifesto.

The Home Minister said the chain of command must be kept clear in maintaining law and order. The process of appointing OCs and SPs through lottery before the election will be reviewed. There are allegations that postings were made in many cases without considering merit. Appointments should have been made considering service records, he commented, also raising questions about the transparency of this process.

He further said there are allegations that an opportunistic group has implicated ordinary people in various cases related to August 5 to harass them. Police have been instructed to examine these cases and present the real picture, and have been asked to submit a report on the matter.

The Home Minister said no one will be allowed to illegally obstruct police work. However, at the same time, police accountability must be ensured so that ordinary people do not become victims of harassment. Instructions have also been given not to deny protocol to Superintendents of Police based on political considerations, going beyond regulations.