Her son Dr Reza Kibria repeated this resentment in Dhaka while routinely performing the peaceful protest demonstration by forming human chains under the programme "Blue for Peace" demanding trial and punishment of the masterminds of his father's killing.

The mystery surrounding the issue of denial of a helicopter to airlift Kibria that many of us practically let go into oblivion has now come to the surface by the above grievances of the victim's with and son alike.

As we freshen up our memory we could well remember that how very terribly the entire nation got bruised at the killing of Shah AMS Kibria with four others by the grenade attack at Baidderbazar in Habiganj on 27 January 2005 in an well publicised Eid Reunion arranged by the local Awami Leaguers. In the death of Kibria the country inevitably lost a most precious son of the soil. In fact he epitomised rare virtues of head and heart that very few individuals could master. He was all through first in all examinations right from Matriculation (now SSC) to CSS (the erstwhile Central Superior Services of all Pakistan), an astute diplomat with long, wide range of experiences in country's foreign service and UN organisations, polite and soft-spoken in manners and behaviour, a pure Bengalee nationalist and patriot, a successful finance minister ensuring dal baht (humble meals) to the downtrodden and what not?

It is a very sensitive and pertinent question as to why no arrangement was made for airlifting Kibria from Habiganj to Dhaka to give him medical aid that could have possibly saved his life as believed by many. Surprisingly the government is not clear about what measures did it take on this matter. Nor had the media, print or electronic, been able to bring out any acceptable chronicle of events leading to his death.

However, thanks to the DS that flashed on its issue of 18 Jan 2005 a news item, gleaned from an independent investigation conducted by it entitled "Chopper controversy" by Julfikar Ali Manik throwing some light on the sequence of events following the grenade launching on Kibria and others. The events may be summed up as below.

The incident took place at Baidderbazar school premises which is about 13 KM away from Habiganj Sadar police station. The grenade was hurled just when Kibria was coming out of the school gate that left him with many others critically wounded bleeding profusely. It was 7:10pm. The local AL leaders picked him up quickly, put him in a car and drove him 13km to Habiganj Sadar Hospital in 15 to 20 minutes. It was around 7:30pm. The Hospital recorded his admission at 7:50pm (The difference in timing may be due to Habiganj Sadar Hospital recording time not at the very arrival of the patient but during the time of rendering him treatment).

At around 7:30-7:35 the local AL leaders headed by Habiganj District AL Vice President Shahiduddin Chowdhury requested the local police to arrange a helicopter by contacting Dhaka. The SP of Habiganj confirmed the AL leaders that the message was sent to Dhaka.

After a while the top level of the Home Ministry contacted the Habiganj police station. The local police once again requested for a helicopter. The Home Ministry official said, "Let us see if any helicopter can be arranged".

The AL leaders waited till 8:30 pm for a call back from Dhaka, wounded Kibria continued to bleed vigorously. At last the AL leaders started for Dhaka at around 8:30 pm taking Kibria in a microbus arranged from a local clinic. The local police did not dissuade them from going to Dhaka by road as they were not sure of response from Dhaka. However a contingent of the police escorted the micro up to Dhaka. The vehicle reached Dhaka at 11:20 pm. Meanwhile Kibria succumbed to his injuries. An AL leader who accompanied Kibria inside the micro said that Kibria was alive more than two hours after the grenade attack. He said probably he died at around 9:30 pm.

The DC of Habiganj stated that when the incident occurred he was on an official programme at Nabiganj, 63 km away from the district headquarters. The place, as reported, was beyond mobile phone network. When he entered the mobile range on way back to district headquarters the SP of Habiganj informed him of the incident by what time the microbus had already left for Dhaka. He further told that he was not informed of Kibria's meeting at Baidderbazar earlier.

A close source from Habiganj police said that the tone they received from Dhaka was positive. But it was not enough to ascertain them that a helicopter would be available. Further one source from Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) reported that the State Minister for Home contacted the BAF chief for a helicopter on that fatal and fateful night.

Could we afford to examine the matter carefully, conscientiously, dispassionately to sort out the unvarnished truth. How did the chain of communication work and where did the command fail or falter? Let us start from the base. It is found that from 7:10 pm to 7:35 pm the crisis management steps taken by all concerned, as stated in the above paragraphs, during which time Kibria was cardashed to Habiganj Hospital, message asking for a helicopter to airlift bleeding Kibria to Dhaka as sent by Habiganj police station giving a second reminder to Dhaka for the copter were quick and well done. But thereafter measures from the higher authorities began to falter and flounder for reasons best known to the persons connected with it.

It is reported that the top level of the Home Ministry contacted the Habiganj police whereupon the latter once again requested for a helicopter. The Home Ministry, as reported, replied in a positive tone. What is mysterious that positive tone did not develop into any fruition. Nor could it keep up the confidence of the Habiganj police so as to lead them to stop the microbus carrying wounded Kibria from starting for Dhaka at 8:30 pm. Meanwhile long 50-60 minutes passed out in breathtaking wait for a return message from Dhaka agreeing to provide a helicopter. The message never came.

The news of the DS said that the State Minister for Home contacted the BAF Chief for a helicopter on that night. But it is not known why the matter did not proceed further.

The DS reported that in the context of a new question that cropped up later regarding the ability of a helicopter to operate at night, the BAF Chief dismissed the worry stating that if lights could be provided at the landing spot the BAF could operate helicopter anytime at night. The BAF performed this several times and its helicopters stand ready for 24 hours for search and rescue missions.

The same report gave out that it is the opinion of a highly placed authority that had the government acted promptly and timely it could be possible to send a helicopter instantly and try to save the life of Kibria.

Of the many questions that the denial of a helicopter to airlift Kibria to Dhaka for SOS treatment has given rise to I would only mention two very arresting ones. Firstly, why and how could the higher authorities of the government at Dhaka remain indifferent to the most humane call to save the life of a person who simply sacrificed his life for his country to raise its image abroad and for the people to lower their distress at home. People want to know during onward transmission of the message for a helicopter where did it get stuck up? Was there any invisible hand to decree the doom? Secondly, the local Habiganj police authority did a fine humane piece of job by sending a message to their higher authorities in Dhaka for a helicopter. Again when the Home Ministry contacted them they requested a second time for the helicopter. But thereafter long time elapsed but they did not volunteer to give further reminder that could be done within seconds. Doesn't it vindicate that the governmental staff have been made to develop an unhealthy professional acumen to move to the higher authority with an issue not on the basis of its merit but on sensing the pleasure of the government to accept it (issue) or not?

BNP Secretary-General and LGRD Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan told that a helicopter was offered to the AL who did not respond. The AL denied it and Kibria's family challenged Bhuiya to substantiate his claim. Bhuiya kept unresponded.

What a pity that the Hon'ble Speaker could not get a shadow of information on this tragedy on that fateful night. Curiously enough, nobody told him of the incident. Further, neither he watched the TV, nor listened to the radio. It was through the grace of the newspapers the following morning that he first knew of the matter. Such was the story that the Speaker gave out to the journalists.

Kibria was a sitting member of the Parliament. Speaker is the guardian of the House. The Speaker-member relation is like that of a guardian-ward hemmed on all sides by solemn responsibilities and obligations. It is Speaker's responsibility to protect the members. As and when a ward is in danger the guardian would move to save the ward. Alas, on that black night of 27 January 2005 the ward slept for eternity and the guardian slept to widen the passage of the ward for eternity! What an irony indeed.

A R Shamsul Islam is retd Principal, Govt Mohila College, Pabna.