A state honour was accorded to his mortal remains which a freedom fighter and a sitting member of the Jatiyo SangsadÊÊdeserves. In an apparent perfect setting only eyesore was absence of the custodian of the magnificent edifice at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar of which late SAMS Kibria was a distinguished member. Muddy culture of politics today forbids a high government representative even to pay his last respect to a departing colleague from the opposition bench!ÊNot that the murdered eminent personality had no admirers among the ruling elite but to show personal mourning on their part wasÊÊmost likely to be regarded as crossing into enemy line with all resultant brickbats may be even from the party top notch. Discretion is no longer a better part of the valour.

However, the Speaker of the House by tradition and convention is above party politics and personifies neutrality and evenhandedness. His absence at the burial ceremony of a leading opposition member of the House, was conspicuous for the simple reason that he had made much ado on TV networks for conducting namaj-e-janaja of Shah AMS Kibria at the steps of South Plaza of the Jatiyo Sangsad.

On TV Hon'ble Speaker recalled precedence and privilege of Members of the House, of their right to having Namaj-e-Janaja at the preserved precinct of the Parliament after their death. In fact TV networks telecast a moveable black canopy kept handy near South Plaza for the purpose. The Speaker was not even discreet when he gave vent to media of his several attempts to reach the family members of the late Member over telephone and the manner in which Mrs Asma Kibria dropped the conversation abruptly halfway. He squarely blamed the bereaved family and the opposition Awami League for inaction in maintaining tradition of the Parliament. He did not fail to mention another instance

of defiance by opposition AL when Namaj-e-Janaja of slain Ahshanulah Master MP was not held at the South Plaza few months ago.

TV networks reflected fully the Speaker's deep commitment to the rituals for dead Member of the House but what the Speaker did to save the life of Shah AMS Kibria, just came to light through his press briefing the other day. The Speaker disclosed that he learnt of the death of the Member of the Parliament next day through newspaper! He was probably in another world where TV, Radio or telephone did not exist. Deeply grenade ridden Kibria was lying on the thin edge of life and death in Habiganj, which was flashed on TV screen from the evening of 27 February. After a four hours agonising journey by ambulance his brutalised body in profusely bleeding condition reached BIRDEM in the capital around midnight only to be pronounced dead. It simply happened to be a case of murder by negligence. The fateful four hours snatched away a life that contributed so much for this nation.

The Speaker, who miserably failed in his primary responsibility to a Member, was not found wanting in launching a counter offensive. He accused Kibria family and AL leaders for keeping him in the dark about the gruesome attack. He added that if he was told of it during nighttime he would have arranged helicopter to save the life of his Member! To the dismay of the custodian of the august House in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, perhaps none between his friend and foe bought a single word of what he had laboured to deliver.

Outburst in the media is no way to show respect to the dead or solace to the bereaved family. Neither the Speaker nor his Deputies even show up on the Qulkhani day! Then why make fuss over "tradition of Janaja prayer at the South Plaza"? Why not make it obligatory for the Speaker or his Deputies to be present during burial ceremony and Qulkhani of a fallen Member of the Parliament?

Ahsanullah Master and Shah AMS Kibria rare breed of politicians these days but Graham's Law is fully in operation in this country. Ceremonial namaz-e-janaja at the South Plaza is not obligatory for such class of nation builders who set shining tradition of serving their nation. Their souls move a million steps beyond the South Plaza towards the realm of the God.

Former Ambassador M.Shafiullah was an associate of SAMS Kibria