Attack on IEDCR director Professor Kazi Ahmed Zakir in Mohakhali: three-member probe committee told to report in seven working days

The Health Services Division has formed a three-member investigation committee into the attack on Professor Kazi Ahmed Zakir, director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), in Mohakhali in the capital.

The committee has been instructed to complete the investigation and submit its report within the next seven working days.

The committee was formed on Wednesday afternoon (October 28) with Arif Ahmad, additional secretary of the budget wing of the Health Services Division, as convener.

The other two members are Imtiaz Hossain, deputy secretary of Administration Wing-1 of the Health Services Division, who will serve as member secretary, and Dr Md Zahid Raihan, additional director general (administration) of the Directorate General of Health Services.

A notification signed by Deputy Secretary Imtiaz Hossain of Administration Wing-1 said any officer of the Directorate General of Health Services or its subordinate institutions may be included in the committee if necessary.

SM Ziauddin Haider, special assistant to the prime minister, expressed deep concern and strong condemnation over the incident. In a post on his Facebook account, he described the attack on the IEDCR director as barbaric and said such incidents are in no way acceptable.

In the post, he said everyone involved in the incident must be identified quickly and brought under the law. He also spoke of ensuring exemplary punishment through a proper investigation.

Ziauddin Haider further said the government is firmly committed to uncovering the real mystery of the incident, identifying those involved in the attack and bringing them to justice. He also said the government is determined to take the necessary effective steps to prevent a recurrence of such incidents in the future.