A year after an attack on the vehicle of the immediate past US ambassador in Bangladesh Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat in the capital’s Mohammadpur in August 2018, police has said they have traced seven suspects and made no arrest so far.
“Probe into the attack is yet to finish; nothing certain can be said for now till the investigation ends,” Detective Branch Deputy Commissioner (west) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Mokhlesur Rahman told Bangla Tribune.
On Aug 4, 2018, a group of about 30-40 people, some on motorcycles, attacked a US Embassy’s vehicle, carrying then US envoy Bernicat, in Mohammadpur area.
The incident occurred around 11pm as the vehicle left the residence of Badiul Alam Majumder, secretary of civil society advocacy group Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik, (SHUJAN) or Citizens for Good Governance
Bernicat was at Majumder’s house to attend a courtesy dinner arranged in her honour.
The US envoy and her security team, however, were left unharmed in the attack. But Majumder’s residence, too, came under attack at the same time.
On the next day, Majumdar filed a general diary with Mohamamdpur police, which was registered as a case five days later and the DMP’s DB (west) was tasked with investigating into the incident.
On Aug 5, 2018, the US Embassy in Dhaka, too, issued a statement, in which it made the allegation on the attack expressing gratitude towards the Dhaka police for their quick response following the incident.
Meanwhile, the US authorities inquired about the investigation progress from Foreign Minister AK Abul Momen when he was on a visit to Washington in mid-July.
Following the US query, the home ministry wrote to the foreign ministry on Jul 31 to let the latter know about the status of the case.
In the letter, the home ministry’s Public Safety Division said evidence and witness’ statement is being collected. A motorcycle that was used during the attack has been traced.
Six suspects namely Russell, Feroze, Kajal, Raju, Saju, and Akash, too, have been traced with another one Biplob’s involvement in the attack has been found. None has been arrested in the over the incident, so far, the letter said.
Police, however, told the home ministry that they would report to the court on time after the investigation ends.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the probe, plaintiff Majumdar said the investigating officers contacted him at the beginning but later they stopped.
He demanded a fair investigation into the incident and the perpetrators be brought to justices.
Marcia Bernicat, who is currently Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the US’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, became the US envoy ambassador to Bangladesh on Feb 4, 2015 and left her assignment in Dhaka on Nov 2, 2018.