Wife finds new probe pace dismal

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Asma Kibria, wife of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria, yesterday expressed frustration with the pace of supplementary probe into the killing of her husband this day three years ago.

“Two months ago when my son called to enquire about current status of the investigation, a CID official told him they were yet to start the job,” Asma told The Daily Star.

Earlier in March last year, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed courts that they had started fresh investigation in the two cases filed for the assassination.

Since then, 10 months have gone, but they could not prepare supplementary charge sheets.

Meanwhile, trial of both the cases–one for murder and the other for explosion–has remained pending before the Sylhet Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal since the High Court stayed proceedings on May 14, 2006.

Asma Kibria said masterminds behind her husband’s killing could be unmasked if Harris Chowdhury, ex-political secretary to former prime minister Khaleda Zia, and the then deputy commissioner of Habiganj are quizzed properly.

She alleged that remnants of the BNP-Jamaat alliance are still in the administration trying to impede fair investigation.

However, CID chief Phani Bhoushan Choudhury yesterday said they have been making headway in the probe.

He said the investigators have already gathered that Mufti Abdul Hannan, the detained operations commander of Harkatul Jihad al Islami (Huji), had supplied the grenades used in the January 27 blast that left Kibria and four other Awami League (AL) leaders and workers dead.

Talking to The Daily Star, he also said three low-profile Huji activists carried out the grenade attack in 2005.

“We are now trying to hunt down those three. Once at least one of them is arrested, we would be able to know about the brains behind the killings,” observed the CID boss.

The then investigation Officer (IO) and former ASP of CID Munshi Atiqur Rahman pressed charges against 10 BNP leaders and workers on March 20, 2005.

Vice-President of Habiganj district BNP Abdul Quaiyum was made the principal accused. The other accused are Joynal Abedin Jalal, Jamir Ali, Momin, Tajul Islam, Shahed Ali, Selim Ahmed and Enayat Ali, Muhibur Rahman and Kajal Miah. Of them, eight including Quaiyum are behind bars.

Tajul, Shahed, Jamir and Mumin gave confessional statements to a magistrate, but later appealed to a higher court seeking to retract their statements. They claimed they had confessed under duress while in police custody.

PROGRAMMES
The third anniversary of SAMS Kibria’s death will be observed through elaborate programmes today and tomorrow.

Family members and different socio-cultural and political organisations will lay wreaths at the grave of the slain AL leader at Banani today.

Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote will organise a discussion at the AL central office on Bangabandhu Avenue at 10:00am today while noted economist and AL leader AMA Muhith will deliver a speech memorial to Kibria at the Sufia Kamal Auditorium of National Museum at 4:00pm tomorrow. Bangladesh Foundation for Development Research has organised the lecture.

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