The ministry on February 28 included the case in its list of sensational cases warranting quick disposal and formed a three-member task force comprising Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) officials to oversee the probe.

Special Superintendent of Police (CID) Kawsar Ahmed Haidari who heads the task force yesterday told The Daily Star, "We are now hopeful that we will soon be able to find out those involved in the Ramna blast."

He however declined to elaborate on how much progress has been made or when the charge sheet would be made out.

The investigation took a new turn after Harkatul Jihad Al Islami (HuJi) chief Mufti Abdul Hannan last year admitted to carrying out the heinous attack that left 10 people dead and scores injured during Bangla new year celebrations at Ramna Batamul on April 14, 2001.

The confessional statement by Hannan has given the probe a much-needed jump-start, said CID investigators.

According to it, around 10 HuJi leaders and activists have been involved in the blast. Besides Hannan, former HuJi leader Moulana Abdur Rouf is behind bars now.

Rouf had split off from HuJi and formed a militant outfit during the intervening years. Investigators said they have already submitted a prayer for him to be remanded and quizzed about his role in the attack.

"We are verifying the information that Mufti Hannan gave about his 10 associates and a move to haul them in is on," said a CID official seeking anonymity.

Meanwhile, sources said the investigators still find it difficult to identify the attackers, as Hannan did not specify many things in his statement.

The militant kingpin in interrogation said he and his fellows hatched the plot at a house in Mohammadpur while the investigators have yet to locate the holding number given by him.

Two Dhaka College students--Hasan and Omar Faruq--executed the plan but Hannan did not give their fathers' names and their department or academic year.

Sources close to the sleuths said the investigation was hampered due to frequent changes in the procedure and posts. The investigation officer (IO) was changed for as many as seven times, supervising officer five times while the investigation itself was moved thrice to different departments.

CID Inspector Abu Hena Yusuf who is now investigating the case is the eighth IO.

The first five months since filing of the case went quite all right but the progress was undone soon after the four-party alliance came to power in October 2001.

The BNP-led government did not take long to dismiss the militants' involvement in the blast and instead blamed it all on the then main opposition Awami League (AL).

According to Mufti Hannan, he held several meetings with Sheikh Farid of Khulna, Moulana Abdul Hai of Narayanganj, Moulana Akbar of Siddhirganj and Moulana Abdur Rouf at the Mohammadpur house to plot the attack.

On his instructions, Sabbir and Jahangir made several powerful bombs applying the methods used by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Taher, Hasan and Faruq planted one of those bombs at the site of Chhayanaut's traditional cultural programme.

Hannan also said they had planned to carry out frequent attacks across the country to trouble the then AL government.

Police captured 12 people in connection with the attack. Of them, Akbar gave confessional statement.

But the arrestees were freed on bail thanks to a 'fake' post mortem report, court sources said.