A three-member panel has been formed to investigate the disruption in the sound system during the opening sitting of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, with authorities seeking to determine if the incident was an act of sabotage.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the House Committee on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, committee chair and chief whip Nurul Islam said that the panel had been asked to submit its report by April 3.

The disruption occurred on March 12, the first day of proceedings of the new Jatiya Sangsad, forcing a temporary suspension of the sitting due to the malfunctioning of the audio equipment.

Nurul Islam said that the issue had been discussed at the committee’s inaugural meeting and confirmed that an investigation panel, led by the sergeant-at-arms, had been tasked with examining the matter.

‘We suspect that there might have been an element of sabotage,’ he said.

The chief whip said that they had also invited technical experts from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology to assess the system and identify the underlying faults.

According to the chief whip, the panel will focus on two key questions: whether any deliberate sabotage took place, and what technical problems caused the disruption, along with making recommendations to resolve them.

The meeting also discussed accommodation and medical facilities for the Members of Parliament.

Nurul Islam said that most MPs would be provided with housing, while ministers, state ministers, the speaker, chief whip and whips had already designated residences.

Efforts are under way to ensure necessary procurement is completed by April 10.

The House Committee is scheduled to meet again on 30 March.