FBI agent in Habiganj

Habiganj, March 27 (BDNEWS) – Trung Vu, a special agent of FBI, Sunday visited the spot where former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria came under grenade attack and talked to local investigators as well as the charge-sheeted accused in prison.

Sources concerned said while talking to the accused, the agent of Federal Bureau of Investigation of the USA put emphasis on the source of the grenade that they used in the rally at Baidder Bazar in the district on January 27.

They said the main thrust of the FBI investigation is now on detecting the sources of the grenade as such attacks took place in the country in a series, including on the UK High Commissioner Anwar Chowdhury.

Kibria and four other Awami League leaders were killed in the grisly attack.

After visiting the Baidder Bazar, the US investigator went to Habiganj prison at around 3:30pm and talked to the eight of the charge-sheeted accused who were confined in the jail, police sources said.

During the visit, two other US security personnel – Brain R Peterson and Nicholas C Pottar - accompanied Trung Vu.

DIG of Sylhet Range, AKM Maufuzul Haq, IO of the case Munshi Atiqur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sadar thana M Shafiuzzaman and other officials of intelligence agencies also accompanied the US team.

Police are now investigating into a second case under explosives act in connection with the grenade attack.

Vu along with two other US secret service members went to the spot at about 11:30am and inspected the bloodiest spots where the deadly attack was made on January 27.

The agents stayed there for more than two hours and examined the scene and its surrounding, police sources said adding that the US investigators also took video shots and some photographs of the spot.

The investigators later visited Zilanee Sawmill, adjacent to the Baidder Bazar Government Primary School premises, the spot of the grenade attack.

The sawmill belongs to Zamir Ali, one of the accused of the attack, where the main suspect BNP leader Qaiyum had reportedly held a meeting before the grenade attack.

The US team might leave Habiganj Monday, police sources said.

Earlier, the US team reached the capital on March 23.

Police submitted the charge sheet on March 19 accusing 10 persons, mostly BNP men, including Habiganj BNP Vice President Abdul Qaiyum.

BDNEWS/2010 hrs