Foreign tech support to be taken for judicial inquiry: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said foreign technical assistance will be taken for the judicial probe committee formed by the government aims at ensuring fair and standard inquiry of quota reform movement.

"We will take foreign technical assistance for the judicial inquiry committee to make it appropriate, qualitative and highly standard," she said.

The prime minister said this while German Ambassador to Dhaka Achim Troster called on her at Ganabhaban.

Prime Minister's Press Secretary Md Nayeemul Islam Khan briefed the reporters after the meeting.

The government has formed the Judicial Inquiry Committee with High Court Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman to probe all the deaths centering the quota reform movement in the country.

In the meeting, the prime minister said that Bangladesh, in the meantime, has a communication with the United Nations (UN) regarding taking assistance for this inquiry.

The PM's press secretary said, "The UN expressed interest while Bangladesh also showed willingness."

Besides, German Ambassador Achim Troster said that his country will stay beside Bangladesh.

Germany has a longstanding relation with Bangladesh and it will be continued, he added.

Regarding the religious fanaticism, the envoy said Germany has no sympathy for their accomplices, adding that they are firmly hopeful over the recent speech of the prime minister that there will be an independent inquiry.

"It will identify the culprits and they will be exposed to the trial," he said.

Achim Troster said that the slow visa procedural system of the embassy in Bangladesh is not a dearth of goodwill rather it is being held due to the resource constrains.

He expressed regret for this unwilling delay in visa procedures.

The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Germany.

The German ambassador also extended his condolences on the Mourning Day on Tuesday which was declared by the government to remember those who lost their lives, including law enforcement personnel, during the quota reform movement. The decision was taken in the regular Cabinet meeting on Monday.

Ambassador-at-large Mohammad Ziauddin, PM's Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah and Senior Secretary of Foreign Ministry Masund Bin Momen were present.

Source: BSS