Mohosinul Karim
Despite strong police opposition to foreign involvement in the probe, the government has decided to welcome the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a United States (US) intelligence agency, to investigate the killing of Bangladesh-born US citizen Avijit Roy.
The Ministry of Home is now waiting for the official letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to allow the agency to investigate the brutal incident that took place in the evening of February 26 (Thursday) near the Ekushey Book Fair on the Dhaka University campus, Ministry sources told The Daily Observer.
Avijit's wife and fellow blogger Rafida Ahmed Bonya was seriously injured in the incident as she tried to defend Avijit during the attack mounted soon after the couple came out of the Book Fair.
Avijit died at the DMCH, while his injured wife is being treated at the Square Hospital in the city.
After the incident, the FBI showed its interest to get involved in the investigation of the killing. They have requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to allow them to investigate the incident.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already discussed the issue with the Ministry of Home Affairs informally. They have already been given a green signal. But, the Home Ministry suggested the Foreign Ministry to send them an official request to allow the agency to participate in the investigation process, the sources said.
But, the police authority, which was already given the charge of investigating the incident, is opposing the involvement of the FBI in the probe. They are trying to persuade the government not to allow the FBI to investigate. The police claimed that the investigation of FBI or other international agencies would not bring any result. Their previous experiences show that they could not identify the criminals or dig out the reasons of the occurrences, the sources said.
Finally, the police will have to investigate and find out the reasons and apprehend the miscreants, they claimed.
Ministry of Home Affairs Senior Secretary Dr Mozammel Haque Khan told The Daily Observer on Sunday, "Though we have been informed informally about the FBI interest to investigate the incident, we are yet to get any official letter. We have no problem to allow them. We are now waiting to get letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."
"We will welcome the renowned investigation agency to probe the incident as a well-equipped and trained agency. It would be considered sincerely if they request us to allow them to investigate," he added.
When asked about the intention of the police, Dr Mozammel said, "We are not aware of it. However, we will welcome them as there is no problem to allow FBI to investigate the incident. They will do their work and police will do theirs. We want to find out the reason and miscreants that killed a non-resident Bangladeshi."
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali told journalists that the government has decided to engage the FBI in the investigation into the brutal murder of the writer-blogger Avijit Roy following Washington's offer.
Mahmood Ali conveyed the decision to a group of Dhaka-based diplomats including the Americans, while briefing them on the ongoing political situation on Sunday.
Earlier, the FBI investigated the August 21 grenade attack mounted on a protest rally of Awami League where AL President and the-then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina was injured in 2004. Several leaders and activists of the party were killed and injured in the incident.
Meanwhile, the world media is vocal against this barbaric act of cowardice and demanded stern action against the culprits responsible for this incident. International humanitarian organizations bitterly criticised this heinous incident and termed it as an infringement to free thinki8ng and freedom of opinion and expression. 
Later, several international intelligence agencies including the Scotland Yard and Interpol had investigated some other incidents like attack on former British High Commissioner Anwar Chowdhury in Sylhet.
According to senior police officials, their visits to Bangladesh to investigate the incidents turned into recreational tours as the investigations had brought no result at all.
Meanwhile, the Avijit murder case, which was filed in Shahbagh Police Station, was officially handed over to the Detective Branch (DB) on Sunday. The officials of DB South zone have already started investigation into the incident.
According to the police sources, no one has been arrested yet in this connection three days after the brutal murder.
Avijit Roy's body have been taken to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) mortuary after people paid their respect to the slain writer-blogger at Dhaka University. The body was taken around noon on Sunday to the footpath next to the Suhrawardy Udyan opposite the Milan Chattor, where he was brutally hacked.
The people held a demonstration at the spot over the death of the Bangladeshi-American bioengineer. They chanted slogans demanding immediate arrest and speedy trial of the killers.
At the end of the agitation lasting for about half an hour, the body was taken to his father Ajay Roy's residence at Siddheswari.
Finally, Avijit's body was taken to the DMCH mortuary, as his family decided to donate it for medical research after his wish.