AL forgets Kibria
Courtesy Daily Star 1/6/11
Tearful Asma alleges neglect in investigation into her husband's killing
Rashidul Hasan
Awami League has forgotten its slain leader Shah AMS Kibria, let alone ensuring justice to his killing, claimed Asma Kibria, widow of the former finance minister.
She told The Daily Star that the AL government has failed to track down the masterminds of her husband's killing in the last two and a half years and is now trying to get rid of the responsibility by bringing some petty goons to book.
Asma said she would go for demonstrations if the real culprits behind Kibria killing are not revealed and justice is delayed any longer.
Shah AMS Kibria was assassinated in a grenade attack in 2005 while he was holding a meeting with party workers at Baidyerbazar in Habiganj, Sylhet.
Asma said, "Awami League did not pay due respect on his [Kibria's] death anniversaries since it assumed power in 2009. Sometimes I say to myself: 'Oh Kibria, is this the party for which you sacrificed your life!'"
Talking to The Daily Star at her Gulshan residence, where she is now leading a solitary life, Asma shared her bitter experience with issues including the charge sheet of Kibria killing case and the negligence of the government and the party in this regard.
"I also sought to talk to Prime Minister and AL chief Sheikh Hasina for at least five minutes about the charge sheet of the case, but she said she did not have time for that," said Asma in helpless tears.
She said without identifying the real culprits the investigation officer (IO) of the case tried to submit supplementary charge sheet on May 25 but he refrained from doing so in the face of strong criticism from her.
According to Asma, the IO talked with Kibria family only once since the filing of the case more than five years ago. "We asked the IO over and over to quiz the then deputy commissioner of Habiganj but he paid no heed to that."
"Helpless, we called upon the government to replace the IO, but only to deaf ears. Besides, we also demanded the government take the intelligence's assistance to track down the masterminds. This demand also got lost in the air," she alleged.
The foreign ministry also did not care to remember Kibria while honouring defected Pakistani government officials this April, said Asma.
During the Liberation War in 1971, Kibria served the Pakistani embassy in Washington DC, she said, adding, "He [Kibria] declared allegiance to Mujibnagar Government of the independent and sovereign Bangladesh and worked with great zeal and dedication to drum up support for Bangladesh in the US."
"His [Kibria's] name was not on the list of the defected officials and I cannot believe that this is happening when AL is in power," she said.
Kibria, also a freedom fighter, chose the present foreign ministry building, but it was very unfortunate that the ministry forgot him, Asma told The Daily Star.
The Dhaka City Corporation also turned down Asma's request to name a road after Kibria.
"The mayor said he [Kibria] was not such a dignitary to name a city road after," Asma said.
"We saw a beam of hope when AL assumed power. But now I can clearly say that we the family of Kibria are deeply shocked and disappointed at the way the AL government is treating us and my departed husband," she said.
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