The investigation is now at a standstill as the second Investigation Officer (IO) of the case is now preparing to go on LPR (leave preparatory to retirement) within days. He is in the capital for the last two weeks to prepare for LPR, sources said.

He will be in Sylhet within a day or two to hand over the case documents to the authorities.

No decision has yet been made who would be the next IO, sources here said yesterday.

"Nothing satisfactory" could be revealed in investigation by other agencies including NSI, DGFI and SB, a source said.

Though officials of different intelligence agencies claimed "success" in probe, "things are not at all clear", he said seeking anonymity.

A British detective team will again visit Bangladesh soon. A team from Scotland Yard and London Metropolitan Police visited Sylhet twice after the blast.

Fourteen people have so far been arrested in connection with the incident. They were remanded for different periods and produced before court, which sent them to jail hajat.

Besides, over 100 people of different professions and the injured were interrogated by the agencies. But their findings are yet to be made public.

The arrested people include Habibur Rahman Selim, Convener of opposition Awami League League's student front Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), some other leaders of the party and of AL's youth front Juba League and two guards of the shrine--Enamul and Dudu Miah.

The two shrine guards and another person -- Abdus Salam Laki--, arrested from the city's Munshipara area, were also quizzed by a Joint Interrogation Cell in Dhaka.

On the other hand, ASP Munshi Atiqur Rahman of CID and Major Liaquat of NSI went to Singapore in the second week of June to interrogate Badrul Hossain Shamim, a Bangladeshi born British citizen, who was being treated there for injuries he suffered in the blast.

After the officials' returned from Singapore, Shamim flew to UK and is now being treated at a hospital there. Shamim's newly married wife has also gone to UK, sources said. Shamim came to Sylhet weeks before the blast.

Immediately after incident, a case was lodged by a Sub Inspector of Kotwali police Station and its OC SA Newazi was made the IO. Within days, the case was transferred to the CID and ASP Munshi Atiqur Rahman, working in Dhaka made the IO.

NSI, DGFI and SB were also involved in the probe and a cell was formed with officials from these agencies and the DIG of Sylhet Range was asked to monitor its work. The main case however remains with the CID, Sylhet Range the DIG Ali Imam Chowdhury told The Daily Star.

Three says after the incident, Sylhet Police Superintendent Shahadat Hossain was suspended and withdrawn on the basis of confidential reports which claimed security flaws during the British High Commissioner's visit. Later, ASP (North) Siddiquee Tanzilur Rahman and the OC of Kotwali thana were also transferred within days.

Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Dr Abdur Rahim was posted as the new SP of Sylhet but the order was changed.