Police officials said the BDR was called out to help police in the ongoing operation on the Banshkhali coast to arrest the killers. They said a number of suspects have been nabbed for quizzing.

Meanwhile, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Satkania circle in southern part of Chittagong, Clarence Gomes, has been asked to investigate the Banshkhali carnage.

Earlier, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Banshkhali Police Station was made investigation officer of the case, but was removed from it as he could not make any headway.

Awami League President and Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina visits scene of the bloodbath at Shilpara today. She is also expected to address a public rally at Banshkhali, party sources said.

Visitors from different socio-political organisations continued to pour into Banshkhali regularly to visit the scene of the carnage.

Supporters of Chattagram Mahanagari Puja Udjapan Parishad marched down the city streets yesterday after a rally demanding an immediate judicial enquiry into the bloodbath. They also submitted a memorandum to the prime minister through the deputy commissioner of Chittagong.

The Parishad also announced a set of agitation programmes protesting the carnage.

The programmes include a two-hour sit-in on Chittagong Press Club premises from 2:00pm on December 2, protest rallies across the city and different upazilas of Chittagong on December 3 and 4 and another protest rally at Central Shaheed Minar at 3:00pm on December 5.