"There should be no misunderstanding about our purpose. We want to unearth the truth and make the findings public. Our efforts are purely non-partisan and neutral," Rokan said in an interview with the private news agency yesterday, dispelling doubts about the probe body.

When pointed to the criticism of their venture, Rokan said the concept of public inquiry committee on events of national importance is not new. Citing an example he said similar inquiry committee was formed to probe the murder of Moizuddin Ahmed, a former MP, at Kaliganj during the Ershad regime. Law Minister Maudud Ahmed, who is now vocal against the lawyers' inquiry committee, was a member of that probe body.

Refuting allegation of BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, he said: "We have no clash with the judicial inquiry commission set up by the government. It will do its job and we will go ahead with our task."

He also dismissed the snide remarks of Communications Minister Nazmul Huda that the lawyers' probe body is farcical and a blueprint to implement the programme of Awami League. "Our six-member probe body represents all major political parties including Dr M Zahir of BNP. Only one Awami Leaguer, Barrister Amir-ul Islam, has been included in the body."

General members of the Supreme Court Bar Association formed the probe body in a resolution, which was adopted unanimously, said Rokan, also president of the Supreme Court Bar Association.

Asked why they have formed an independent committee when the government already set up a judicial inquiry commission to investigate the tragic incident, Rokan said experiences showed no report of judicial commission was ever made public and the people never knew what actually happened. "We shall make our report public."

Moreover, when lack of confidence in the government grows, responsible citizens should come up to meet the public demand, he said

Asked how much time the lawyers' probe body will take to publish its report, Rokan said they have not yet set the deadline.