Staff Reporter :
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Friday formed two separate probe committees to investigate the sexual assault and molestation of several women during the Pahela Baishakh celebrations on the Dhaka University campus on Tuesday evening.
“One of the committees will investigate the incident of assault on women while the other to probe the issues regarding the responsibility of the on duty police personnel,” Monirul Islam, DMP Joint Commissioner told reporters at his office in the capital on Saturday.
One committee comprises Additional Commissioner (Crimes and Operations) of Police, a Joint Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner (East) of the Detective Branch, the DMP spokesperson said.
Another probe body consisted of an Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) and Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Ramna Division. It will work as supplementary to assist the other body in investigating the matter,” he said.
The police official said that the DMP had installed around 19 CCTV cameras in the Shahbagh area with three to four cameras positioned right around the alleged spot where the incidents of sexual assault took place.
However, Monirul Islam said that police were yet to identify any person relating to the assault neither did they contact any victim. “The victims of the assault have been requested to contact police. Their identities will be kept secret. Witnesses have also been requested to extend their cooperation for the sake of proper investigation,” the DMP spokesperson said.
The DMP authorities also assured that the identities of the information providers would not be disclosed.
Interested people have been requested to make calls on the numbers below: Deputy Police Commissioner (Ramna Zone) 01713373120, Deputy Police Commissioner (Media) 01711605149, Additional Deputy Police Commissioner (Ramna division) 01713373121, Assistant-Police Commissioner (Media) 01711605145 and Shahbagh Police Station OC 01713373127.
Meanwhile, the committee formed by the DU authorities has started investigation of the incident.
The DU authorities, in a circular, asked all to submit information in connection with the sexual harassment to the office of committee convener Professor Dr Nasreen Ahmad, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) by April 23.
On Thursday, the High Court directed the concerned DU authorities and police to inform it what measures they have taken to bring the perpetrators to book after probing the incident of sexual assault on women on the Dhaka University campus.
The Inspector General of Police and the Vice-Chancellor of DU have been asked to submit separate reports before the court by May 17.
Earlier on Tuesday evening, a group of youths assaulted and sexually harassed some women at the Suhrawardy Uddyan gate near TSC during the Pahela Baishakh celebrations.
Following Tuesday’s incident, the print and electronic media reported that a group of 20 to 30 men molested more than 20 women for over an hour.
