The judicial inquiry commission formed to investigate the fatalities linked to the quota reform movement will seek foreign technical assistance to ensure a thorough investigation into the matter and welcomes the United Nations (UN) offer for support, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina discussed the matter with the German Ambassador to Bangladesh Achim Tröster during a courtesy meeting at her official residence Ganabhaban on Tuesday morning (30 July).
Following the meeting, the PM's Press Secretary Naimul Islam Khan briefed the journalists.
"The Judicial Inquiry Committee has been formed to conduct a fair inquiry, and to ensure that the investigation is of the highest standard, foreign technical assistance will be sought," Naimul Islam Khan said.
Regarding the UN's assistance, he added, "There has already been communication with the United Nations about collaboration. The UN has shown interest, and Bangladesh has responded positively."
Quoting the German ambassador, Naimul Islam Khan said, "Germany is very optimistic about an independent investigation. The culprits will be identified and brought to justice."
She also quoted the ambassador, saying, "Germany has no sympathy for those associated with religious extremism."
At the start of the meeting, Ambassador Achim Tröster expressed condolences and solidarity with Bangladesh over the recent violence and loss of life, joining the national mourning.
Reaffirming Germany's support for Bangladesh, the envoy, as quoted by Naimul Islam Khan, said, "Germany will stand by Bangladesh. They have had a long-term relationship with Bangladesh and will continue to do so."
PM Hasina expressed satisfaction with the longstanding and current friendly relations between the two countries.
"PM Hasina recalled the friendship with Germany since Bangabandhu's time and noted that several German families had adopted war children from Bangladesh," Naimul Islam Khan said.
Addressing the issue of slow visa processing, he said the German envoy apologised for the delays, attributing them not to a lack of goodwill but to limitations in their capacity and resources.
The government formed a judicial probe committee with High Court Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman to probe all the deaths centring on the quota reform movement in the country.
Among those present during the courtesy meeting were the Prime Minister's Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin, Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah, and Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Masud Bin Momen.
