Arrest the attackers immediately
The charge-sheet submitted by police over the attack on the motorcade of former US ambassador Marcia Bernicat seemed not only to cover up the crime but also to protect the criminals by applying a conspiracy theory. The charge-sheet said the accused attacked Bernicat’s motorcade as they thought that an anti-government conspiracy was underway.
Marcia Bernicat's motorcade was attacked at Iqbal Road, Mohammadpur in the capital city on 4 August 2018. She had been attending a dinner at SHUJAN (Citizens for Good Governance) secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar’s house. Her motorcade was attacked by some armed miscreants while she was returning from the dinner. At around 11:00pm a group of local AL leaders led by Chhatra League leader Naimul Hasan Russel pelted stones at Bernicat’s motorcade. The ambassador left the scene quickly after the miscreants chased her car. They also launched attack on Badiul Alam Majumder’s house at the time.
Nearly two and a half years after the attack, the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Branch (DB) police has filed a charge-sheet against nine leaders and activists of the local Awami League and Chhatra League. The DB filed the charge-sheet in the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court on 17 January, but the matter came to light on Friday after a month and a half.
Marcia Bernicat came to Dhaka as the US ambassador on 25 January 2015 and returned to the USA on 2 November 2018 after serving for four years. Investigating officers said they tried to nab the accused. But the accused said the police did not search for them but just wanted to know the name and address over phone.
The Bangladesh government issued a statement condemning the attack and promised to take appropriate measures. The US government wanted to know from Bangladesh about the progress of the investigation into the attack on the vehicle carrying Marcia Bernicat. They want the attack to be taken very seriously and for an effective and impartial investigation. The matter has been discussed during foreign minister AK Abdul Momen's recent visit to the United States. Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan said that as far as is known, the culprits have been identified and necessary actions will be taken soon.
But if the conspiracy theory is applied in the police investigation and they pretend to not to see the accused, then how will the trial take place? No citizen can attack the motorcade of a foreign ambassador or the house of another citizen on the assumption of anti-government conspiracy.
The attack on the motorcade of the then US ambassador is a criminal offence. During the BNP rule, the militants bombed the then British high commissioner Anwar Chowdhury and injured him critically. The attack on the US ambassador was carried out by the local level leaders and activists of the Awami League.
It is very unfortunate that during the tenure of a government which is always concerned with protecting the image of the country, the attack on the motorcade of a foreign ambassador has not been brought to justice or the trial has been delayed. Initiatives should be taken to ensure justice by arresting the accused immediately.