Kibria murder case transferred to Speedy Trial Tribunal

The SAMS Kibria murder case was transferred to Sylhet Speedy Trial Tribunal from the Habiganj Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court on Tuesday for its quick disposal.

Judge of Habiganj Chief Judicial Magistrate's court Nishat Sultana passed the order for transfer of the case.

Talking to reporters, the former finance minister's lawyer advocate Alamgir Bhuiyan Babul said the tribunal will begin its proceedings on 21 June and the case will be disposed of by 135 working days.

Five people, including Kibria, were killed and 70 others injured in a grenade attack on a public meeting held by Awami League at Baidder Bazar in Sadar upazila on January 27, 2005.

Awami League leader Abdul Mazid Khan filed two cases – one for the murder and another under the Explosives Substances Act – with the Habiganj Police Station the following day.

CID Assistant Superintendent Munshi Atique submitted a charge sheet against 10 BNP leaders and activists on March 19, 2005.

On 20 June 2011, CID Senior Assistant Superintendent Rafiqul Islam submitted a supplementary charge sheet incorporating the names of 14 more people, including former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar and Mufti Hannan. The plaintiff filed a petition expressing no-confidence.

Upon an appeal by the complainant, the High Court on May 5, 2006 stayed the proceedings of the cases. Following another appeal by the complainant, the tribunal on May 14, 2006 ordered further investigation into the cases.

After further probe, Rafiqul submitted the first supplementary charge-sheet.

However, Asma Kibria, wife of the slain minister, filed a petition with a local court expressing no-confidence in the investigation. The court then forwarded the case documents along with the petition to the tribunal concerned.

Later, the tribunal on January 5, 2012 ordered the CID to carry out further probe into the killing.