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Cricket lessons
The Daily Star - July 26, 2007
- Stop repeating, "no one is above the law". This is a
truism. Yet,
this truism has a ring of absurdity in the context of Bangladesh.
Remember, the murderers of Bangabandhu were given diplomatic
assignments. For years, inquires into the murder of Bangabandhu, his
family, and important national leaders in jail, were stonewalled. More
recently, investigations into the murder of Mr. Kibria are still
pending, as are those concerned with the bombings that almost killed
Sheikh Hasina in August 2004.
Attack on UK Envoy: Mufti Hannan, 3 others charged
The Daily Star - June 10, 2007
Charges have been pressed against Mufti Abdul Hannan of outlawed
Harkatul Jihad and three others for the grenade attack on British High
Commissioner Anwar Choudhury in Sylhet in 2004.
.... Within
three months of Sylhet incident, 22 people died in grenade attacks on
the Awami League rally in Dhaka on August 22, 2004. Former finance
minister of Awami League Shah AMS Kibria was also killed in a grenade
attack at Habiganj on January 27, 2005.
August 21 grenade attacks on AL meeting:
Khaleda, Nizami, Tarique, Babar, 24 others face murder charge
The New Nation - June 5, 2007
A murder case was filed with the
Chief
Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court yesterday accusing 28 persons,
including BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, her eldest son Tarique Rahman,
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami and secretary
general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid for their alleged involvement in
grenade attacks on a public meeting of Awami League president Sheikh
Hasina at Bangabandhu Avenue in the city on August 21, 2004 that left
at least 22 killed and more than 100 injured.....
The Home Secretary
yesterday reviewed 10 sensational cases, including
the Awami League leader and former Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria
murder case, case related to grenade attacks on British High
Commissioner Anwar Choudhury in Sylhet, businessman Jamaluddin murder
case in Chittagong, with senior officials of the law enforcing agencies
at the Home Ministry's conference room at Bangladesh Secretariat.
United
States Issues Country Report on
Terrorism:‘ Asian Tribune’ presents South/Central
Asia Assessment
Asian Tribune - May 1, 2007
In September, authorities arrested four members of another
banned
terrorist organization, Harakat ul-Jihad-I-Islami/Bangladesh (HUJI-B),
two of whom confessed involvement with the 2004 grenade attack that
severely injured the British High Commissioner, the 2005 assassination
of opposition Awami League elder statesman Shah Kibria, and three
attacks on two other Awami League leaders.
US
for polls as early as possible
The Daily Star - April 12,
2007
The envoy said the US supports the present activities of the
caretaker government, but at the same time expects that fundamental and
human rights are respected and the due process of law is followed for
those arrested on charge of corruption. Butenis said as
they want proper investigations into the killing of former finance
minister SAMS Kibria and the grenade attacks on an Awami League rally
in Dhaka and the trials of the perpetrators, they also demand
appropriate investigations into the killing of journalists in Khulna
and the trial of their killers.
Probing
August 21 killing
The Daily Star - Mar 27, 2007
As far as the August 21 tragedy is concerned, one recalls the
constitution of a one-man committee to inquire into the mayhem. It
remains a disturbingly amazing reality that the inquiry came to be
tainted with a politically partisan hue and that the report it prepared
was never brought to public notice, except as some incomplete and
fragmentary news reports. It was a plainly disgraceful act. It is,
therefore, in the larger interest of the nation that the tragedy,
together with all the other cases the government has focused on, be
inquired into in a proper and conclusive manner. That can be done
through a speeding up of the investigative process and a filing of
charges related to the incidents. It will be worthwhile noting here
that the authorities can advance the cause of justice further through a
meaningful pursuit of the cases related to the assassinations of former
finance minister Shah AMS Kibria and the lawmaker Ahsanullah Master.
Bangladesh's human rights record remains poor with serious abuses: US
The Financial Express - Mar 9, 2007
On September 3 last
year, the report
said, police arrested four members of the banned militant Islamist
organization Harkatul Jihad al Islami (HuJi) for complicity in the 2004
bombing of a Muslim shrine in Sylhet. One of the four people arrested
admitted involvement in the SAMS Kibria murder.
CID
resumes probe into Kibria killing
The Daily Star - Mar 8, 2007
The criminal investigation department (CID) has started further
investigation into the killing of former finance minister and Awami
League leader SAMS Kibria....."We
found some significant information regarding involvement of a few more
people with the sensational killing," the IO told The Daily Star
adding, "We will try to finish our job as soon as possible."
Speed
up process for polls by June
The Daily Star - Mar 4, 2007
The AL president also demanded investigations into the killings of
former AL lawmakers Ahsanullah Master and Shah AMS Kibria, the August
21 grenade attack on an AL rally, the bomb attack on British High
Commissioner Anwar Choudhury, smuggling of 10 truckloads of arms in
Chittagong, and the countrywide bomb blasts on August 17.
Ekushey
Book Fair buzzing with visitors
The Daily Star - Feb 4, 2007
In the morning, Reza Kibria came to the fair on the occasion of
publication of an essay collection 'Prabondho Sangraho', by his slain
father Shah AMS Kibria. The book was brought out by Agamee Prakashani.
Terrorists'
godfathers
please reinvestigate
The Daily Star - Feb 1, 2007
...The caretaker government must investigate the report in all
seriousness. Not only this, but perhaps there is a need to
reinvestigate the blast cases particularly the ones that were directed
against the British High commissioner, Mr. Kibria, and of course the
attack on the AL meeting on August 21, 2004. Not only have
some of the investigations remain uncompleted, there is every reason to
believe that the investigations were influenced by political
considerations, particularly in the light of the revelations made in
the recent Prothom Alo report.
Kibria
killing
The Daily Star - Jan 28, 2007
We call upon the caretaker government to order a reinvestigation
into the killing since one cannot rule out the possibility of political
consideration having influenced the course of the previous
investigation and its ultimate findings.....Not only does the
Kibria family deserve a free and fair trial, the principle of justice
requires that all the culprits associated with the heinous crime must
be unearthed and brought to justice, which can be done only through an
unbiased investigation. This must be done to save the country's
politics sinking further into the mire.
Kibria's 2nd death
anniversary today : Family members demand fair probe into his killing
Financial Express - Jan 27, 2007
"Who are the real masterminds? We're not satisfied as only
some low profile people were arrested. We demand punishment of the real
culprits or else other people may also be killed by them," said Reza
Kibria, son of late Kibria -- former finance minister, while talking to
the UNB. He also raised a question about the source of the
grenades, which were used in the attack to kill Kibria on January 27 in
2005 at
Boidderbazar in Habiganj. "Same ARGES grenades were used in
the August 21 attack on AL rally in the city and during the attack on
British High Commissioner in Sylhet. Had the source of the grenades
been found out, then my father would not have to die," Reza said.
Kibria's
death anniversary observed: Family
demands quick arrest of masterminds
The New Nation - Jan 27, 2007
The mastermind behind the murder of former finance
minister Shah AMS
Kibria remains undetected even after two years since the incident. Long
frustrated with the previous government's meddling in the
investigation, Kibria's family now hopes the interim administration
will act to have a fair probe.
Two
Years of Kibria Killing Tomorrow :
Family now hopes for fair investigation
Wants masterminds to be identified
and caught
The Daily Star - Jan 26, 2007
The mastermind behind the murder of former finance
minister Shah AMS
Kibria remains undetected even after two years since the incident. Long
frustrated with the previous government's meddling in the
investigation, Kibria's family now hopes the interim administration
will act to have a fair probe.
Citizens'
body asks AL to scrap deal
with bigots
The Daily Star - Dec 31, 2006
A number of eminent citizens of the country yesterday
submitted a
memorandum to the Awami League (AL) demanding the cancellation of the
five-point deal between the AL and the Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish
(BKM), saying that it would undermine secularism in the
country.....Other
eminent citizens who signed the memorandum are -- Justice KM Sobhan,
Khan Sarwar Murshid, Hena Das, Asma Kibria, Syed Shamsul Haque, Rabiul
Hossain, Shyamoli Nasrin Chowdhury, Nimchandra Bhoumik, Tasmima Hossain
and Shirin Akhtar.
House
of Lords debate Bangladesh Election
House of Lords Press Release - Nov 30,
2006
In
his opening remarks, Vice Chair of Parliamentary Human Rigths
Group, Lord Avebury noted the bleak prospects for a free and
fair
2007 election. Lord Avebury also observed
“But the crimes of the past few years,
including the brutal assassination of the elder statesman Shah AMS
Kibria and the murder of 12 people who were attending a rally addressed
by the leader of the opposition in an attempt on the life of Sheikh
Hasina herself, have not been properly investigated and remain
unsolved. If the state fails to guarantee the security of elected
members and is not seen to be actively pursuing the terrorists who
attack them, democracy will be fatally undermined."
Uphold
democratic spirit and human
rights
The Daily Star - Nov 16,
2006
Speakers at an international conference in
London have expressed
concern over recent political developments in Bangladesh and stressed
the need to uphold the country's democratic spirit and fundamental
human rights.
Bangladesh
Today
International Crisis Group - Oct 23,
2006
The leaders of the two main
parties, the BNP and the Awami League (AL), are locked in mutual hatred
that has paralysed parliament. The AL has good grounds for its
complaints of victimisation: an August 2004 grenade attack on an AL
rally in the capital nearly killed its president, Sheikh Hasina, and
left other senior leaders dead or injured; other assaults include the
murder of Shah A.M.S. Kibria, a respected former finance minister.
There have been no serious investigations of these killings.
No
step yet to restore HR in Bangladesh
The Daily Star - Oct 10, 2006
...It said members of the EU parliament see no reason why the
Bangladesh
government has failed to arrest any real culprit in connection with the
grenade attack on August 21 on the public meeting of former prime
minister Sheikh Hasina, when more than 24 people were killed and over
500 injured. "We believe that failure to punish the real
culprits, who are responsible for the grenade attack on Sheikh Hasina,
Shah AMS Kibria and on other political leaders, will encourage them to
carry out similar terrorist activities in Bangladesh.
Prospects for free, fair polls in
Bangladesh bleak Avebury
tells seminar in London
The Daily Star - Sept 30, 2006
Referring to the manipulation in preparing the recent voters list,
Lord Avebury said, "This is mass-produced fraud which must be exposed
and corrected. The NDI commented on the 'rampant and escalating
violence' of recent times, including the assassination of former
finance minister Shah AMS Kibria, the attempt on the life of British
High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury; the multiple grenade attack on the
Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina, the suicide bombing of two
judges, and the simultaneous explosion of 500 bombs all over the
country in August 2005.
Investigation
into attack on British HC: Sign of progress after two years?
The Daily Star - Sept 6 2006
....It is our impression that the investigations into the acts of
militants
are conducted in a slow, half-hearted and complicated manner. The
sequence of events into the investigation of the grenade attack on the
British High Commissioner and into the murder of SMS Kibria create such
an impression.
Two
suspects held for grenade attacks
on UK envoy, Kibria
The Daily Star - Sept 4 2006
Investigators yesterday arrested two young men from Habiganj in
connection with grenade attacks on the British high commissioner and
slain former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria. The arrestees
are Bipul and Mizan. An investigator said the arrestees admitted to
their involvement with the incidents. "They admitted to having thrown
the grenades themselves," the investigator claimed.
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2005/2006 Book Releases
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January 2006. - The University
Press Limited announces publication of "Looking Back: The autobiography
of Shah AMS Kibria". Cover Art and Preface by Asma Kibria. Read Introduction
(English)
upl@bttb.net.bd.
upl@bangla.net.
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Mohammad
Shajahan has
edited and published a collection of essays, photos, and press reports
regarding the life and untimely death of SAMS Kibria.
Copies may be purchased by contacting the publisher at waramishu@yahoo.com.
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US Senate/House
Lawmakers
express concern, request information
July, 2006 |
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Senators and Representatives from both major
political parties recently sent letters to the Bangladesh Government.
In their letters, the legislators noted their
continued interest in the Kibria investigation and in achieving
justiice for all victimes of political/communal violence.
The lawmakers also expressed their concern about the lack of
substantial progress in the case. |
Senate
Letter |
House
Letter |
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Culture of personal attacks should be
changed: Reza Kibria
The Daily Star - Sept 1 2006
The mission of 'Blue for Peace' is to change the prevailing culture in
Bangladesh politics of 'attacking someone personally', said Reza
Kibria, son of slain former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria at the
70th programme of the movement at Dhanmondi in the city yesterday.
'Our
mission is to establish a culture where "there would be battles of
ideas, one would attack other's policies and the other would defend its
stand" he said.
Aug
21 carnage: 18 Congressmen demand fresh
probe
The New Nation - Aug 20 2006
Eighteen Congressmen of the United
States have written a strong letter
to Bangladesh’s Prime Minster requesting her to open a new
and fully
independent investigation into the grenade attack on the opposition
Awami League leadership including its president Sheikh Hasina.
(Read
Congressmen's Letter)
London
Seminar discusses forthcoming elections
Lord Avebury, in his opening remarks said, " I hope we shall have a
rational discussion leading to conclusions which may help Bangladesh to
achieve the objectives we all share - democratic elections which allow
the people to express their will freely, after hearing what the partys
have got to offer, leading to a government which values and
promotes the principle of equality..."
A new hub for terrorism?
The Daily Star - Aug 10 2006
Nothing that the article: "A New Hub for Terrorism?" appearing in the
Washington Post of August 2, says has not been said in our press, in
the last year and a half in particular, insofar as it relates to
Jamaat-e-Islam (JI) and its alleged link to the two radical groups in
Bangladesh whose leaders are under orders of execution. (Read
full text of
the Washington Post article)
U.S.
reiterates hope for transparent Bangladesh polls
Hindustan Times - Aug 4 2006
...Boucher also met the family members of former finance minister SAMS
Kibria, killed in a bomb explosion in 2004, and assured that the US "is
with them" in their effort to nail the culprits. "I came
here to
express our feelings for her husband and we made her understand that
America is with her," he said after a 45-minute meeting in which he
inquired about the status of the Kibria murder case.
He stressed
that cases of all political murders, including Kibria's assassination,
should have a fair trial in the interest of democratic process in
Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Observer reported.
U.S.
Condemns Bangladesh violence
United Press International - July 21 2006
The U.S. ambassador to Bangladesh has expressed profound
concern over the country's political violence.
SC
stays case proceedings
The Daily Star - July18 2006
The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday stayed for three months
all
proceedings of former minister Shah AMS Kibria killing case now pending
in the Sylhet Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal. Full bench of
the
Appellate Division of the SC headed by the chief justice passed the
order and also granted government's leave-to-appeal petition against
the High Court's May 14 order following a petition of complainant of
the case seeking further investigation.
US
envoy worried at political violence
The Daily Star - July10 2006
The US Ambassador in Dhaka Patricia A Butenis yesterday
expressed deep
concern over the political violence in the country, and inadequacy of
investigation into those saying that the guilty should be brought to
justice to stop further such killings....
...Referring to the US Congressmen's concern about the inadequacy of
the progress made in the investigation and prosecution in the murder
case of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria, Patricia Butenis told
journalists, "This is a special case that should be looked into
seriously."
15
Congressmen express concern to PM
The Daily Star - July 6, 2006
Fifteen Congressmen of the United States sent a letter to Prime
Minister Khaleda Zia expressing concern about the adequacy of the
progress made in the investigation and prosecution in the murder case
of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria. Besides,
a separate letter was sent to the Bangladesh Ambassador to the US
Shamsher M Chowdhury on June 26 by 11 other senators that also dealt
with the killing of the senior Awami League leader.
Washington DC, June 2006
 Reza Kibria,
son of slain MP Shah AMS Kibria, met with members
of the US Senate, House of
Representatives, and State Dept. during a recent visit to the
US.
Reza briefed the lawmakers on the status of the
investigation into the killing. In meetings with
Senators
Kennedy and Chafee, Reza expressed his appreciation for the
lawmakers continued support in the campaign to ensure justice for
victims of political and sectarian violence.
Grenade
Attacks: US envoy not happy with probe progress
The Daily Star - May 31, 2006
US Ambassador Patricia A Butenis expressed her disappointment at no
development in the investigations of grenade and bomb attacks on
dignitaries like British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Anwar
Chowdhury, Mayor Kamran, slain SAMS Kibria, and others.
Int'l probe into all political
killings
demanded
The Daily Star - May 19, 2006
People from all walks of life yesterday demanded international
investigation into all political killings including that of slain
former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria.
They also demanded that all criminals along with their
masterminds must be brought to justice. The
call was made from a human chain formed under the banner of 'Blue for
Peace' in front of Eden College University in the city.
HC
stays all proceedings of Kibria killing case
The Daily Star - May 15, 2006
The High Court (HC) yesterday stayed all proceedings of the Kibria
killing case now pending at the Sylhet Divisional Speedy Trial
Tribunal. The stay order came in response to a petition filed yesterday
by
complainant of the murder case Habiganj Awami League (AL) leader Abdul
Majid khan. Moved by Dr Kamal Hossain, the petition challenged
the Sylhet Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal's rejection of a prayer for
a further investigation into the case earlier this month. The
HC bench also ordered the government to explain within two weeks as to
why the ruling of the Speedy Trial Tribunal, Sylhet should not be
declared illegal and without lawful authority.
( Read the SC
decision ) 
Govt
trying to protect masterminds
The Daily Star - May 5, 2006
BNP-led four-party alliance government is now trying to delay the
investigation into Kibria murder case in order to protect the
masterminds, participants at the 'Blue for Peace' programme said
yesterday. The
masterminds behind the killing of former finance minister Shah AMS
Kibria have direct link with the ruling BNP, they said, adding that so
the government wants to divert the investigation away from them.
Trial
adjourned for 10 days
The Daily Star - May 5, 2006
Trial of the former finance minister SAMS Kibria killing case was
adjourned yesterday for 10 days at the Sylhet Divisional Speedy Trial
Tribunal. Judge
Biplob Goswami gave the order as the complainant filed a petition
praying for four weeks' time to appeal against the rejection of a
prayer for reinvestigation of the case. The court rejected the prayer
for reinvestigation of the case yesterday. Advocate Abdul Majid Khan,
complainant of the case, and others filed the petition on May 3.
Trial
held up as complainant seeks further investigation
The Daily Star - May 4, 2006
Trial of former finance minister SAMS
Kibria killing case could not be
resumed yesterday in the Sylhet Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal
following a petition filed by the complainant for further investigation
into the case.
Kibria's
75th birth anniversary today
The Daily Star - May 1, 2006
Today is the 75th birth anniversary of former finance minister Shah AMS
Kibria. Kibria, also an Awami League leader, was killed in a
grenade attack in Habiganj on January 27, 2005. His family
has drawn up elaborate programmes to mark the day. The
programmes included placing of wreaths at Kibria's graveyard at Banani
at 8:00am, a three-day photo exhibition and a discussion at Bilia
auditorium at Dhanmondi at 3:30pm.
Govt
unwilling to probe afresh to protect mastermind: family
The Daily Star - April 30, 2006
.... Referring to the murders of Kibria and Ahsanullah Master,
an AL MP from
Gazipur, as well as the grenade attack on Sheikh Hasina's rally on
August 21 that killed 22 and maimed dozens, Reza said, a powerful
quarter positioned at the top level of the government is involved with
these incidents. "These attacks are very much part of the terrorism
campaign that we have recently witnessed in the form of Islamist
extremists," Reza said.
SC rejects prayer for further
probe
The New Nation - March 21, 2006
The Supreme Court Tuesday dismissed
the
leave-to-appeal petition against a High Court verdict that affirmed the
lower court's orders rejecting the informant's plea for further
in-depth investigation into the Kibria murder before commencement of
trial.......On November 21 last year, the High Court discharged a writ
petition
that sought further investigation of the murder of Kibria with the
observation that it has "no jurisdiction" to order further inquiry into
a case pending with the trial court.
(
Read an outline of the Petitioner's Prayer)
Asma Kibria Meets
with Senator Sununu
Portsmouth, NH - March 20, 2006
Mrs. Asma Kibria, today met with Senator John E. Sununu (R) for
discussions regarding investigation into the assassination
of Shah AMS Kibria. In addition to reviewing the recent HC decision
denying the Kibria family's appeal for a full investigation into the
killing, Mrs. Kibria expressed her appreciation for Senator
Sununu's continued participation in the campaign for
justice and support for good governance in
Bangladesh.
Dying Kibria was denied an
airlift
The Daily Star - March 15, 2006
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?
(
See a prior news article on the subject of helicopter transport)
World
wants strong probe, open trial
The Daily Star - March 8, 2006
Foreign diplomats in Dhaka at a meeting with Foreign Minister M Morshed
Khan yesterday strongly advocated vigorous investigation and trial of
Islamist militants in a "transparent and open" manner.
To
all our friends and well-wishers
The Daily Star - Jan 27,
2006
The entire nation, and indeed, the very foundations of our Republic are
now under attack by the evil forces of hatred, intolerance and greed.
The same groups that are behind the killing of my husband and so many
others seem to have everything in their favour: money, guns and power.
This is no cause for despondency. No one must forget that such an
intimidating array of forces has been confronted before in our history,
when those who stood united in their belief in a tolerant and just
society emerged victorious. There is a tough struggle ahead, but anyone
who believes in the courage and determination of the common people of
this country should have no doubt about the outcome.
Why has justice not been
served?
Mahfuz Anam, The Daily Star - Jan 27,
2006
It is not only a national shame, but also a statement on the nature
and state of our politics, that his murder remains unsolved till today.
Assassinations per se do not make a country or a people look bad. But
when very little is done to track down the real murderers and when the
government shows inordinate delay in taking the necessary steps to
apprehend the criminals, then obviously serious questions as to the
sincerity and intention of the investigation comes into question (see
story on page 1).
Letter
from New York
The Daily Star - Jan 27, 2006
....It is my sincere hope that the ongoing investigation into the
murder
of your husband will bring the authors and perpetrators of this heinous
act to justice. We at the United Nations will continue to hold him with
the highest regard and to honour his years of association with the UN
as Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific (ESCAP) and related assignments.
In
Memoriam - Shah A.M.S. Kibria: A son's tribute
The Daily Star - Jan 27, 2006
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.....Perhaps
the most difficult thing for those who loved and respected my father
has been the failure and probably even unwillingness of the current
government to bring his killers to justice. Only when this is done can
my father's soul rest in peace and will it be possible to bring closure
to this dark chapter. The arrest and prosecution of a few lower-level
operatives of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
notwithstanding, there has been no real effort by local investigators
to seek to identify the real masterminds behind this assassination or
even find the source of the grenades used in the attack. Many people
would now agree with our family's insistence on the need for an
independent international investigation of this and other political
killings under the current regime. Our family and friends will continue
our peaceful campaign of protests until this climate of impunity is
ended.
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One year of Kibria Murder:
Mastermind remains unknown
The Daily Star - Jan 27, 2006
The mastermind behind the assassination of veteran
Awami League leader and former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria remains
untraced even after one year into the grisly grenade attack that also
killed four others at an AL rally in Habiganj. ..... Police
so far arrested eight of the charge-sheeted accused while two others --
Kajal Mia and Muhibur Rahman -- are on the run. Four
of the accused -- Tajul, Shahed, Jamir and Mumin -- have already given
confessional statements to a magistrate. They, however, prayed to
higher court for retraction of their statements alleging that those
were extracted by torture in police custody.
(
Read Court Judgement on the accused's appeal for retraction )
2006
a crucial year for HR, democracy: Irene
Khan tells The Daily Star about Bangladesh
The Daily Star - Jan 7, 2006
....The government has to be aware that others cannot create its image.
"It is the government who has the power to create its image or destroy
it; others simply reflect and expose it. So, the responsibility has to
lie with the government," she observed.
A ruling
government cannot use others as an excuse not to discharge its own
responsibility. "If it does so, it admits its own failure. If it
accuses others of doing something that means the government is not
capable of running its affairs," she said, adding that what the
government is doing is putting pressure on the media not to expose the
situation as it sees.
'Country needs leaders like
Kibria'
The Daily Star - Jan 4, 2006
The country today needs dedicated, honest and patriotic leaders like
former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria to tackle the present crises
and safeguard the nation from the clutches of the defeated forces of
the liberation war, speakers at a publication ceremony of a book said
yesterday. The autobiographical book titled 'Pechhane Phire
Dekha' by Kibria was launched at the National Museum auditorium in the
city. |
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Habiganj residents demand
int'l investigation
The
Daily Star - Oct 19, 2005
Residents of Habiganj district formed a human chain in Dhaka yesterday
to press home their demand for an international investigation into the
killing of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria and exemplary
punishment to the killers.
Carrying placards and banners, the demonstrators gathered in front of
the Supreme Court under the banner of Shah AMS Kibria and Shah Monjur
Huda Memorial Foundation.
They feared that the justice might be denied if the murder case is sent
to the speedy trial tribunal.
HC hears petition to
reinvestigate Kibria murder
The
Daily Star - Oct 19, 2005
The hearing of a petition challenging a lower court verdict rejecting
any further investigation into the Shah AMS Kibria killing case began
in the High Court yesterday.
Govt
may rush trial on incomplete finds
The
Daily Star - Oct 5, 2005
The son of assassinated ex-finance minister SAMS Kibria has expressed
fear that the government will try to rush the Kibria murder case based
on incomplete probe reports.
"By trying a handful of lower-level operatives and then declaring the
case closed, an attempt will be made to protect the masterminds behind
my father's killing," Reza Kibria said in an exclusive statement given
to The Daily Star recently.
Int'l investigation into
Kibria killing demanded
The
Daily Star - Oct 1, 2005
Asma Kibria, wife of slain former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria,
yesterday demanded an international investigation into the gruesome
murder of her husband to track down the culprits.
Terming the current investigation incomplete and flawed, she said, "We
will never accept such a trial based on an incomplete investigation. We
will continue to carry out our movement to get justice."
Asma Kibria broke down in tears while speaking at a publication
ceremony of a book titled 'Shah AMS Kibria - A Legend' at the
Liberation War Museum in the city.
Asma Kibria calls for
people's unity against bombing
The
Daily Star - Aug 26, 2005
"Asma Kibria, widow of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria,
yesterday urged the countrymen to unite under the umbrella of their
'Blue for Peace' programme to resist all kinds of bomb attacks in the
country. She demanded impartial investigation into all bomb attacks and
justice for the killing of Kibria while addressing the 26th 'Blue for
Peace' programme at the Central Shaheed Minar."
Arrested extremists going
scot-free
Editorial,
The Daily Star - Aug 22, 2005
"We are troubled by the report appearing in a leading Bangla daily
stating that many Islamic militants who were arrested repeatedly, some
of them red-handed, have been let off every time they were arrested.
This was because either there was 'lack of evidence' or the evidence
was not properly recorded while the case was being prepared. In some
cases, names of the accused were dropped from the final report of the
police. A case in point is that of Bangla Bhai..."
Trained in foreign lands,
they spread inland
The
Daily Star - Aug 21, 2005
"A deep pocket filled by oil rich hands, virtually unrelenting access
to arms, an insidious nexus with mainstream political parties and the
government's blind eye to them -- the deadly concoction that have made
it possible for the religious terrorist groups to thrive in
Bangladesh."
Series of blasts poses
lasting security threat
Say analysts, blame govt inaction in punishing previous attackers
The
Daily Star - Aug 18, 2005
"Simultaneous bomb blasts across the country yesterday pose a long-term
threat to the country's security system, said security analysts, adding
that the incidents once again proved the incompetence of intelligence
agencies to detect any threat to security."
The Threat of Islamic
Extremist to Bangladesh
Power
and Interest News Report - July 27, 2005
"The Bangladesh government's current measures against Islamic
extremists operating on its soil could put the country's interests in
danger. With conditions in the country conducive to the spread of
Islamic extremism, the government's relaxed approach to this issue
could enhance Bangladesh's attractiveness as a haven for terrorists
fleeing counter-terrorism operations elsewhere."
Habiganj DC obstructing
probe Family alleges
The
Daily Star - July 4, 2005
"Family members of the slain former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria
yesterday said the deputy commissioner (DC) of Habiganj is obstructing
the investigation into the killing of Kibria and demanded his removal
from the district."
Top US lawmakers for free
int'l probe
The
Daily Star - June 28, 2005
"A group of US senators and congressmen have asked the United States
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to propose a resolution in the
United Nations Security Council calling for an independent
international investigation into the killing of Bangladesh's former
finance minister Shah AMS Kibria."
Chargesheet
on Kibria murder case accepted
The New
Nation - May 9, 2005
" A court here on Monday accepted the chargesheet under the Explosives
Act against 10 accused in the grenade attack at Boidyerbazar in
Laskarpur Union of the district that killed former Finance Minister
Shah AMS Kibria."
Chargesheet
contents curiously identical
The
Daily Star - April 22, 2005
"Nearly identical contents in the chargesheets in the two Habiganj
carnage cases and the report of a high-powered government investigation
team have put into question the integrity of the investigators and
authenticity of the probes, legal experts and the plaintiff said."
Quaiyum
Linked to the Laden Group and the Hundi Business: Charge-sheet View
Daily
Amar Desh (Bengali) - April 21, 2005
"The main accused in the both the murder of former Finance Minister
Shah A.M.S. Kibria and four others, the expelled Vice-President of the
Habiganj District BNP, A.K.M. Quaiyum, is linked to the international
terrorist Bin Laden group and the Hundi business. This view was
indicated in the charge sheet of the case filed under the Explosive
Substances Act with regard to the grenade attack on Kibria..."
No alternative to reforms,
Hasina tells US envoy
The Daily Star - April 29, 2006
.... The US envoy said they had also discussed terrorism and political
violence in the country. Appreciating
the capture of JMB leaders, Butenis emphasised investigation into the
attacks on Sheikh Hasina and British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury,
and the killing of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria in grenade
attack in Habiganj. "It is also important to continue to
investigate the attack on Sheikh Hasina herself… This is
also terrorism," the envoy said.
Launch agitation against govt
The Daily Star - April 28, 2006
Dr Reza was addressing the 'Blue for Peace' programme
initiated by
Asma Kibria, widow of slain Kibria, in front of the National Press Club
in the capital. Dr Reza said the campaign to protest the
killing of his father would continue until the masterminds of the
killers are arrested and brought to justice. He said a group
of assassins and militants has captured the
politics of the country and they are killing all good people.
"Under the BNP-Jamaat regime, many sons like me have lost
their fathers, but
they could not organise any movement against the killers as they
received threats from different quarters," he said.
"However, seeing our peaceful movement many families have been inspired
and they
are thinking of protesting their father's killings," he added.
Govt trying to hide its link
with
militants
The Daily Star - April 14, 2006
The government is not allowing the journalists to talk with the
arrested militant kingpins for fear of disclosing the links between the
militants and its ministers and lawmakers, said the participants at
'Blue for Peace' programme in the city yesterday. They
said journalists were not given permission to meet with arrested
militant kingpins Shaekh Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai as
Jamaat-e-Islami, a partner of four-party alliance government, has
direct link with religious militants. Under the programme, a
human chain was formed in front of Abahani ground at Dhanmondi in the
city demanding that the killers of all political leaders including
former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria be brought to book.
Speaking
on the occasion, Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, former president of Dhaka
University Teachers' Association, said, " The arrest of Abdur Rahman
and Bangla Bhai is not the success of the government. Rather, it is a
victory of mass media that forced the government to nab the militants."
'Police probe partial'
The Daily Star - April 7, 2006
Former Justice KM Sobhan has termed the undergoing investigation of the
murder case of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria as
'partial'.
Speaking at 'Blue for Peace' programme at Motijheel in the
city yesterday he
said, " Police is investigating the case according to their wish and we
are protesting it in a peaceful way." "We also protest all
political killings in the country," he added.
'Govt nets militants for
political gains'
The Daily Star - March 31, 2006
BNP-led four-party alliance government has arrested militant kingpins
Shaekh Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai for political gains and not for
eliminating religious militants, said the participants at 'Blue for
Peace' programme in the city yesterday. They
said a large number of militants carried out bomb attacks across the
country under the protection of alliance government killing progressive
political leaders, civil society members and intellectuals one after
another, but the government has captured only two top kingpins.
Patrons
left out in militancy probe
The Daily Star -
March 11, 2006
It now entirely rests with the government core command whether to take
or not any steps to bring the patrons of Islamist militants to book,
according to the law enforcers investigating into the militancy
phenomenon. While probing the cases, they leave alone the
patrons and cohorts of Islamist terrors in political parties, the
administration and even in the police, as they have received no
government instruction regarding these people, not even to track them
down, sources close to the investigators say.
Still
no answersl
The Daily Star -
March 10, 2006
...What are we to make of Abdur Rahman's reported request to speak to
the State Minister for Home Affairs before surrendering, or the reports
that he has identified three senior government officials as his
sponsors, or the reports that the video-tape of his interrogation was
turned off when he made this statement? This is reminiscent
of reports of the local authorities' refusal to question the lead
suspect in custody for the murder of Shah AMS Kibria, allegedly for
fear of whom he might implicate.
Is
it the end of the road for the radicals?
The Daily Star -
March 9, 2006
.....There is no doubt that the agencies will be able to extract enough
from
them to get to the bottom of all the bomb blasts that were carried out
in the country since 1999. There are reasons to believe that except for
two incidents, that of August 21, 2004, and the killing of Mr. Kibria
on January 25, 2005, all were carried out by the so-called Islamists
group led by these two. It must be emphasised that the former was
entirely political, designed to take out the entire Awami League
leadership, while Mr. Kibria's killing had to do with the national and
regional political power play.
Tyrant
Bangla Bhai finally captured
The Daily Star -
March 7, 2006
Bangla Bhai, the tyrant who once spread Islamic militancy with the
administration's protection, was captured wounded yesterday from a
remote Mymensingh hideout after skirmishes with the Rapid Action
Battalion (Rab).
Int'l probe into Kibria
killing demanded
The Daily Star - Feb
24, 2006
Leaders of different organisations and civil society members yesterday
reiterated the demand for an international investigation into the
killing of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria. They
along with the family members of Kibria lined up in front of the
National Museum at Shahbagh in the city as part of the 'Blue for Peace'
programme to voice their demand. Expressing concern over
the killing of intellectuals across the country, they also criticised
the government for its indifferent attitude towards such violence.
Call to bring masterminds to
justice
The Daily Star - Feb
17,
2006
"Such killings cannot be stopped unless we track down the
masterminds and put them on trial," she said at a 'Blue for Peace'
programme at the Central Shaheed Minar in the city. Asma
Kibria
said, "We gathered here to protest all the killings as well as to pay
homage to the language martyrs."
Asma demands fair trial of
Kibria killing
The Daily Star - Feb
10,
2006
Asma Kibria, wife of slain former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria,
yesterday said the investigation into the Kibria murder case was
carried out in a way to protect the real killers. Demanding
fair trial, she said the nation will never accept the trial of the case
based on the flawed and incomplete investigation.
Proceedings
of Kibria murder case stayed
The New Nation - Feb
7,
2006
Within three
hours of charge
framing by the
Speedy Trial Tribunal of Sylhet against the accused of Kibria killing,
the Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed for three weeks all of the case
proceedings. Chamber judge of the Appellate Division Justice
Amirul Kabir Chowdhury
passed the order of stay upon an application for leave to appeal to
overturn a High Court verdict that had discharged the plea for further
investigation into the sensational Kibria-murder case.
Trial at
fast court starts today
The Daily Star - Feb
7,
2006
Trial of the former finance minister SAMS Kibria murder case begins in
the Speedy Trial Tribunal of Sylhet today. In
accordance with the order of High Court (HC), the District and Sessions
Judge of Habiganj sent the case documents to the Sylhet court on
January 30.
Fair
investigation demanded
The Daily Star - Feb
3,
2006
Asma Kibria, wife of slain former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria,
yesterday called for a fair investigation into Kibria murder case to
bring the perpetrators of the killing to justice. The
real killers will go unpunished unless an impartial investigation is
ensured, she said at the 'Blue for Peace' programme at the Science
Laboratory intersection in the city.
Two SPs removed for terror
link, neglect of duties
The Independent - Feb
2,
2006
In a major move, the government has sacked two SPs Masud Miah and Abu
Musa Md Fakhrul Islam for neglect of their duties. They were found
guilty of the charges brought against them by probe committees in the
departmental cases filed against them.
Kibria murder
case sent to Sylhet
Speedy Tribunal
The Daily Star - Jan
31,
2006
The case of the killing of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria was
sent to the Sylhet Speedy Trial Tribunal from the Habiganj District and
Sessions Judge's court yesterday.
Key US official meets
Bangladesh Islamic leader
Reuters - Jan 28,
2006
...On Friday, Rocca also met the widow and son of former finance
minister Shah A.M.S. Kibria, who was killed in a grenade attack on
January 27 last year. Kibria was a senior leader and policy maker of
Hasina's Awami League. His family said they had
requested Rocca
to raise the issue of Kibria's assassination at the U.N. Security
Council as they did not expect justice in Bangladesh.
A
great son of the soil
The Daily Star - Jan
27,
2006
In paying a warm hearted tribute to a great patriot and in writing
about
a successful finance minister, the first thing that comes to mind about
Late Shah Abu Mohammed Shamsul Kibria (Shah AMS Kibria) is his
exceptional willingness to dispassionately look at any issue in a
theoretical perspective. It can also be stated without any fear of
contradiction that as a Minister of Finance, Kibria kept the welfare of
the people, particularly of the disadvantaged, at the softest corner of
his heart. That's why the government he served followed a scrupulously
crafted policy incorporating the equity considerations in its growth
strategy.
Unforgettable
Kibria
The Daily Star - Jan
27,
2006
.......To my knowledge he had no enemy. But I was clearly mistaken. He
did
have enemies and vicious ones. They were power hungry unprincipled
politicians, religious fanatics and militant fundamentalists who wanted
to make Bangladesh a backward looking theocratic Islamic state. They
feared entry and rise of men like Kibria in their world of politics.
Asma
Kibria urges people to observe 'Blue for Peace' programme today
The Daily Star - Jan
26, 2006
Asma Kibria, wife of slain former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria,
yesterday urged the people to observe the 'Blue for Peace' programme
across the country from 10:00am to 10:30am today to protest all
political killings. To commemorate the first death
anniversary of Kibria, Asma
Kibria
and her family members along with the members of the civil society will
line up in front of her house at Dhanmondi in the city today as part of
the programme.
President’s
Award to IO: Asma Kibria stunned
The Daily Star - Jan
8, 2006
Asma Kibria, widow of slain former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria,
was stunned yesterday after hearing the news that two investigation
officers of Kibria murder case have been rewarded with President Police
Award. In a statement she said, "We all have observed how
the police,
administration and judiciary were used to hide the killers of Kibria."
The police officers have been given the award for 'so
called' investigation whose ultimate result was zero, she added.
"So, are these awards given only for fulfilling the
desire of the government? " asked Asma. She said the awards
have
once again proved that the
government is making farce with the Kibria murder case.
Progress in Bomb Blast Probes
Govt gives flimsy report to HC
The Daily Star - Jan
4, 2006
Government is playing hide-and-seek, as it makes public almost nothing
of the probe findings into the bomb attacks and keeps the High Court
(HC) in the dark about the key features of the progress in
investigations violating an HC order.
Ringing in the new
The Independent - Jan
1, 2006
The country needs unity, tolerance and inculcation of the true values
of Islam and the other great religions. JMB’s bombs must be
countered not with more powerful bombs but with fig leaf and the lamp
of knowledge. The flame of tolerance that Asma Kibria had lit in the
beginning of 2005 must be kept aglow.
US lists actions for Dhaka to
check terrorism
The Daily Star - Dec
21, 2005
The US Deputy Assistant Secretary thinks strengthening democracy and
civil society are crucial for preventing the growth of extremism. He
also said ineffective law enforcement is just a by-product of the
endemic corruption in both the government and the private sector.
"Corruption undermines confidence in government and the country's
economy. Corruption threatens Bangladesh's survival. The government
should make good on its previous commitments to end it," he said,
adding the government should establish a judiciary separated from the
executive and give its Anti-Corruption Commission the resources and
authority to be truly independent to defeat corruption.
CHRONOLOGY-Recent bomb attacks
in Bangladesh
Reuters, Dec 8, 2005
At least eight people were killed and more than 50 wounded in a suicide
bomb attack in Bangladesh on Thursday which took place during the
morning rush hour on a crowded street in a district town.
Here is a chronology of major bomb attacks in the country during the
last two years:
Bomb attack in Bangladeshi
town
BBC News Dec 8, 2005
At least six people have been killed and more than 50 hurt in a suicide
bomb attack in Bangladesh, officials say.
....More than 400 people have been arrested but the BBC's Roland Buerk
in Dhaka says the masterminds remain at large.
Hartal today in tense Sylhet
Arges grenade detonated; 3 JMB men picked up
The Daily Star - Dec
4, 2005
...He however could not explain why the grenade did not explode. Only
the army has this type of grenades, he said.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, Sylhet Range, Syed Shah Jamal Raj
also said the grenade used in Friday's attack is similar to that used
in the Habiganj incident that left AL senior leader and former finance
minister Shah AMS Kibria killed, and those used in August the 21
incident last year. Outlawed extremist outfits used such grenades, he
added.
Bangladesh Blast Kills One
and Hurts 30
NY Times, Dec 2 2005
A suicide bomber took aim at this country's rattled judiciary on
Thursday for the third time this week, killing one person and wounding
30.
Fresh bombing in Bangladesh
town
BBC News, Gazipur,
Dec 1, 2005
One person has been killed and at least 27 injured after a bomb
explosion in a town in Bangladesh which had been hit by a suicide
attack on Tuesday.
Bangladesh's escalating
extremism
Roland Buerk BBC
News, Gazipur, Nov 29,
2005
The only way to get into the ruined lawyers' library at Gazipur
courthouse was by stepping over the body of the man the police believe
was responsible for the destruction.
Ouster shows govt's support
for
militancy Says Hena
The Daily Star - Nov
25, 2005
Expelled from the ruling BNP for his recent statements against
religious militancy, lawmaker Abu Hena said the decision to expel him
proves that the ruling alliance is dedicated to bringing about
militants' rule in the country.
"I did not hold the entire government or the party responsible for the
rise of militancy. Neither did I blame Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. I
rather blamed a section of the government and the party for patronising
the militants. But now I must say that through my expulsion the ruling
alliance has exposed its role in the proliferation of militants in the
country," Abu Hena told The Daily Star last night.
London HR meet says
persecution, harassment exist in Bangladesh
The
Daily Star - Nov 23, 2005
"There is ample evidence of persecution and harassment [in Bangladesh]"
and "To say persecution
doesn't exist, is itself a terrorism", speakers at a human rights
conference on Bangladesh in London said. Speakers made the
comment on Monday in the launching of a report titled
'Cancer of Extremism' at the UK House of Parliament based on an
international conference 'European Human Rights Conference on
Bangladesh: Extremism, Intolerance & Violence' held in June
this year. Lord Avebury, vice-chair of Parliamentary Human
Rights Group and
chairman
of International Bangladesh Foundation, presided over the event
inviting representatives of persecuted groups to report, a UK
Parliamentary Human Rights Group press release read.
Read Conference Press Release
HC rejects petition for
re-probe
The
Daily Star - Nov 22, 2005
The High Court (HC) yesterday rejected a writ petition seeking
reinvestigation into
Awami League leader Shah AMS Kibria murder case. A division bench of
the High Court
comprising Justice Sharifuddin Chaklader and Justice AFM Ali Asgar also
discharged the
rule earlier issued by the court upon the government. The High Court,
in its observation,
said as the case is in the trail court, it has no jurisdiction to order
for further investigation
into the case. (Read
full text of the High Court Decision)
A quarter at PMO
influencing probe: Asma Kibria
The
Daily Star - Nov 21, 2005
Asma Kibria yesterday blamed a certain quarter at the Prime Minster's
Office (PMO) for influencing
and controlling the normal proceedings of the investigation into the
killing of her husband former
finance minister Shah AMS Kibria.....
"Till date, actually no progress was made in identifying the mastermind
behind the brutal assassination of
Kibria," Asma said. "They arrested Abdul Quaiyum, the main accused in
the killing, but could not
or did not want to find out the source from where he collected the
grenade used in the
assassination," she added.
House of Lords Seminar on
Bangladesh rights status Nov 21
The
Daily Star - Nov 19, 2005
The Parliamentary Human Rights Group and the International Bangladesh
Foundation will hold a seminar on
the current situation in Bangladesh at the House of Lords on November
21. The report of the international
conference 'European Human Rights Conference on Bangladesh: Extremism,
Intolerance & Violence'
held at SOAS, University of London, on June 17 will be published.
An international declaration on the persecution of religious, ethnic
and secular
minorities in Bangladesh, by members of a number of legislatures, will
also be
launched, said a statement issued on November 17 by Lord Avebury,
vice-chairman,
the Parliamentary Human Rights Group and chairman, the International
Bangladesh Foundation.
JMB suicide bomber kills 2
judges
The
Daily Star - Nov 15, 2005
Outlawed Islamist outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) has
struck again,
this time killing two senior assistant judges and wounding three people
in a suicide
bomb attack in Jhalakathi yesterday.
India fences off
Bangladesh to keep out Muslim terror
The
Sunday Times - Nov 13, 2005
INDIA is accelerating the construction of a 2,500-mile fence to seal
its border
with Bangladesh amid growing fears that its Muslim neighbour could
become “a new Afghanistan”.
Indian officials and western diplomats have been alarmed by an increase
in terrorist attacks by militant groups linked to Al-Qaeda and by the
Dhaka government’s failure to crack down on them.
Quaiyum was victimized
The
Daily Star - Sept 29, 2005
The family of ousted BNP leader Abdul Quaiyum, now in jail as the main
accused in the killing of SAMS Kibria, yesterday pleaded Quaiyum's
innocence, saying he is a victim of intra-party feuding of Habiganj
BNP.
"We demand the government to find out the real culprits through a
neutral international investigation," said Ruhul Quaiyum, son of Abdul
Quaiyum, at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday.
Ask Bush to raise Dhaka's
political violence at UN World Summit
The
Daily Star - Sept 15, 2005
"...The congressmen requested the president to place a three-point
proposition for a full, fair and independent investigation: Send an
investigation team to review the investigation and determine whether it
has been conducted effectively; appoint a UN special envoy to examine
the Kibria case and investigate and report on the broader issue of
political violence; send independent UN monitors to Bangladesh if the
Kibria case goes to trial.
|
US Lawmakers
Write Secy Rice
...recommend
that President Bush raise the issue of political violence in Bangladesh
at the UN World Summit....
|
| Sept.
12, 2005 - 16
US
Legislators have again written to Secy Rice raising the issues of
political violence, corruption, and lack of a complete and transparent
investigation into the Kibria killing and other attacks. Their most
recent letter suggests that UN participation in the investigation and
trial is necessary. These 16 Legislators were subsequently joined by
Sentor Susan M. Collins (Maine) and Senator Mike DeWine (Ohio). |
Dr Kamal for unity of
progressive forces
The
Daily Star - Aug 29, 2005
"...The eminent lawyer was speaking at the prize giving ceremony on
essay competition titled "Violence-free Bangladesh and Trial of
Political Killings" at the Jatiya Press Club. The family of former
finance minister and slain Awami League leader Shah AMS Kibria arranged
the essay competition as part of their programmes to protest Kibria's
killing and raise public support against violence."
Terrorism draws its
strength from undisclosed fund
The
Financial Express - Aug 27, 2005
"...Addressing the problems of this 'black economy' requires
two-pronged actions: Establishment of a separate agency with competent
manpower to deal with all sorts of financial crimes and strengthening
the efficiency of the taxation officials to clip the wings of the
black-moneywallahs of all sorts, with probity and integrity.
The continuation of the tax amnesty for those having undisclosed money
and the fiscal provision for whitening their 'black money' with a
nominal rate of tax do not provide here the right signals. Rather, the
scrapping of such facilities -- tax amnesty and opportunities for
whitening 'black money' -- will now be considered a befitting response
to the changed situation."
Terrorism draws its
strength from undisclosed fund
The
Financial Express - Aug 27, 2005
"...Addressing the problems of this 'black economy' requires
two-pronged actions: Establishment of a separate agency with competent
manpower to deal with all sorts of financial crimes and strengthening
the efficiency of the taxation officials to clip the wings of the
black-moneywallahs of all sorts, with probity and integrity.
The continuation of the tax amnesty for those having undisclosed money
and the fiscal provision for whitening their 'black money' with a
nominal rate of tax do not provide here the right signals. Rather, the
scrapping of such facilities -- tax amnesty and opportunities for
whitening 'black money' -- will now be considered a befitting response
to the changed situation."
Bangladesh blasts raise
many questions: India
Indo-Asian
News Service - Aug 17, 2005
"Worried about a revival of Islamic militancy
in its neighbourhood, India has expressed strong concern at a series of
explosions that ripped across Bangladesh Wednesday and expressed its
sympathies for the victims and their families."
 Essay
Competition : Justice and an End to Terror and Political Violence
August
2005
Read Winning Essays |
George's confession leads
to questions
The
Daily Star - June 28, 2005
"Inconsistencies and contradictions in George Mia's deposition
'disclosing the plans and action of August 21 grenade attacks' on an
Awami League rally has caused widespread scepticism."
Armed Bangla Bhai men raid
houses, demand tolls
The
Daily Star - June 28, 2005
"Armed cadres of notorious Bangla Bhai's Jagrata Muslim Janata
Bangladesh (JMJB) yesterday marched the roads and raided some houses in
the villages of Bagmara upazila of the district creating fresh panic
among the locals."
BNP top brass mourn
'criminal' Sagir
The
Daily Star - June 26, 2005
"Law enforcers are hesitating to take action against notorious
criminals holding portfolios of ruling BNP and its front organisations
as many ministers, including prime minister herself, showed sympathetic
concern for slain Jubo Dal leader Sagir Ahmed who was accused in over a
dozen cases including murders."
Political, religious
violence raised in House of Lords
The
Daily Star - June 24, 2005
"The House of Lords, the upper house of the British parliament,
yesterday discussed the state of political and religious violence in
Bangladesh, hot on the heels of the London human rights conference on
Bangladesh."
European HR meet asks govt
to stop extra-judicial killings
The
Daily Star - June 22, 2005
 "A
European human rights conference on Bangladesh recently has called
on the government to act immediately to stop 'extra judicial killings
and custodial tortures', and bring to book the persons responsible for
grenade attacks across the country."
Read conference
resolutions...
Arrival of Interpol team
uncertain
The
Daily Star - June 20, 2005
"....After the August 21 carnage that killed 23 people and injured more
than 300, an Interpol team visited Dhaka and conducted some preliminary
investigations but they were unhappy about the level of cooperation
available from the local intelligence agencies."
|
US Lawmakers
Write Secy Rice
Those who
organized
and ordered attack must be brought to justice
|
| Today
(June 23, 2005), a group of 4 US
Senators and 8 House Representatives have written Sectretary of State
Condoleezza Rice. In their letter the lawmakers urged Secretary Rice to
"...do all you can to ensure that the investigation is conducted in a
fair, expedient, and transparent manner and meets international
standards." On June 28th, Member of Congress Alcee L. Hastings also
wrote Secretary Rice in support of the earlier letter.
In the following weeks Members of Congress Peter T. King and James R.
Langevin joined their legislative colleagues in asking Secy Rice to
closely monitor the investigation into the Kibria killing and earlier
attacks. |
|
 |
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Finance
Minister
June
1996
– July
2001
After the general election on June 12, 1996, joined the cabinet of
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as Minister of Finance. Served in this
capacity until the government's term expired in July 2001.
Service
with the United Nations
May
1,
1981 - March
31, 1992
Executive Secretary of ESCAP (UN Economic and Social Commission for
Asia and the Pacific) with the rank and status of Under
Secretary-General of the United Nations. Headquarters in Bangkok . In
1986, assumed the additional assignment of Special Representative of
the UN Secretary-General for Cambodian Humanitarian Relief.
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BNP
wants
"Stage Managed Democracy"
BNP-Jamaat alliance adopt a similar policy of terror and repression?
Obviously, they also wanted to terrorize the members and supporters of
Awami League to abandon the party. It is a matter of profound concern
that a reprehensible crime such as rape was used by the ruling party
musclemen as an instrument of terror.
Read..
Reign
Of Terror In Bangladesh
Across the country, Awami League leaders are being killed, often in
cold blood, one by one, according to a hit list. The murder of Mr.
Manjurul Imam is a part of the grand design of the ruling alliance.
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Why is Bangladesh
such a
troubled country?
Even
those who supported the
BNP-Jamaat alliance and voted them to power are uneasy in their mind. A
pervasive sense of unease and lack of security prevails everywhere. A
lot of people spend sleepless nights because the prospects for the
future seem so bleak. Many people believe that the country has not seen
such a situation since the days of the Liberation War in 1971
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