Kibria justice stalled for 12yrs

Speakers at a book launching ceremony yesterday demanded a speedy trial for the murder of former finance minister SAMS Kibria who was assassinated 12 years ago.

Kibria was a patriot and man full of knowledge, they told the programme at Poet Shamsur Rahman Seminar Hall in Bangla Academy, jointly organised by Parijat Prakashani and the Bangladesh Foundation for Development Research.

The book, "Sudhui Srimti Noy” (Not just a memory), was written by his wife Asma Kibria, reflecting on the life they had together.

A former Awami League leader, Kibria was killed on January 27, 2005 in a grenade attack in his constituency of Habiganj .

Addressing the ceremony, Prof Emeritus Dr Rafiqul Islam said the Kibrias had not got justice in more than a decade.

He also cited the grenade attack of 2004 on Ivy Rahman, former women's affairs secretary of the Awami League, and expressed disappointment for prolonging of the trials.

However, referring to the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman murder case, Prof Rafiqul said, “Justice delayed does not always mean justice denied.”  

He said, "We got justice for the killing of Bangabandhu after a long time. So we must not give up hope on the Kibria murder trial."

Addressing the programme, State Minister for Post and Telecommunications Tarana Halim said, “The last wish of my aunt, Asma Kibra, was to get justice for the killing.”

She said her aunt demanded justice but never blamed anyone directly. "She taught us that there are non-violent ways of protesting." 

Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, said everyone had a lot to learn from the couple as they were purely patriotic.

A message of Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed was read out at the ceremony, on Kibria and his wife.