In their analysis, the investigators said the attack was aimed at establishing dominance in the local politics of Habiganj as well as at securing the local constituency. But, they failed to identify the mastermind.

Of the eight activists of ruling BNP and one of its front organisations, six are now behind bars and the rest two on the run.

Of the six held, four have given confessional statements. Sources said the charge sheet in the murder case would be submitted in a week.

In their report submitted Monday evening, the investigators identified AKM Abdul Quaiyum, Habiganj district BNP vice president and president of Zia Gabeshana Parishad, as the planner of the attack.

Police arrested him on February 5 at his Segunbagicha home in the capital.

Sources said the investigators named Jainal Abedin Mumin, Lashkarpur union ward 2 BNP secretary and a leader of Zia Gabeshana Parishad (ZGP), as the prime suspect of throwing the grenade.

The probe team guessed the Arges brand grenade might have come from the borderlands in Sylhet including Jokiganj and Karimganj and the hill tracts.

The team submitted its probe report to the home secretary after about one and a half months into its formation.

The six-member team headed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Sylhet Range AKM Mahfuzul Haq also has representation of National Security Intelligence, Criminal Investigation Department, Directorate General of Forces Intelligence and Rab (Rapid Action Battalion).

The team led by the DIG submitted the report on the quiet, without the knowledge of the press, two days before the deadline.

The government remained tight-lipped about the report. Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, Home Secretary Omar Farooq admitted only to have received the report. He declined to disclose even the time when he had received it.

Asked about the findings of the probe, Farooq said, "We're yet to examine the report."

But, sources said the investigators, in the about 150-page report, detailed the arrangement of the AL meeting, Kibria's participation, how the incident took place, and the role of police before and after the incident. The team then reported on the planners and executors of the grenade attack, the suspects and arrestees, the grounds for the arrests and suspicions, possible beneficiaries of the attack and its motives, possible sources of the grenade and recommendation to stop recurrence of such attacks.

THE MANHUNT
The grenade blast minutes into the end of an AL meeting at Baidder Bazar Govt Primary School in Lashkarpur union killed former finance minister and local AL lawmaker Kibria, his nephew and three others and injured at least 70 people.

Habiganj district AL Organising Secretary Abdul Majid Khan filed two separate cases -- one for murder and the other under the explosives substance act.

Nine BNP adherents have been arrested so far in the murder case. They are Qaiyum, Mumin, Habiganj district ZGP general secretary Shahed Ali, Laskarpur union BNP president Jamir Ali, Habiganj district ZGP assistant office secretary Shamim Ahmed, ZGP activist Tajul Islam, BNP activists Shah Alam and Jainal Abedin Jalal, and Qaiyum's associate Ayat Ali.

All the nine are now being interrogated on police remand.

The probe team, on completion of its investigations, accused eight BNP-men of collaborating in the attack in some way or other, sources said.

Of the accused, Mumin, Shahed, Jamir and Tajul have come up with judicial confessions to their involvement in the attack. The rest of the accusees are Qaiyum, Jalal and two other BNP activists of Habiganj district, who are now absconding, sources said.

Although Qaiyum have not made any confessional statement yet, those who made it and other arrestees provided the investigators with information that identify him as the designer and organiser of the grenade attack, the sources said.

Qaiyum's involvement in the incident was suspected from the beginning, as he had launched a campaign in Baidder Bazar a few days before the attack announcing himself as the prospective BNP candidate in the next general elections.

A number of local leaders of BNP and its mass organisations, including the arrested Shah Alam, Jalal and Mumin, used to assist Qaiyum in his campaign and accompany him during his visit to the area from the capital.

Travelling down the 15km road from Habiganj town to Baidder Bazar, one sees a series of graffiti painted on the roadside walls hailing the visits of Qaiyum.

Talking on the probe report, a source close to the probe team said, "Although the report contains the final findings of the probe team, investigators believe there might be some masterminds behind the scene for whom Qaiyum and his associates carried out the attack. But, they could not be traced yet."

"The probe team, in its report, has given a guideline and the investigation officers of the cases will have to substantiate the role of the eight BNP-men now in the court by providing evidence and witness accounts," he added.

Sources said statements of different arrestees and some locals point at Mumin as the possible grenade thrower.

Detectives and Rab arrested Mumin, a postman at Baidder Bazar post office, who lives about 60 yards from the spot, six days after the incident. Law enforcers' suspicion was first ignited by a foolish comment Mumin made after Kibria's assassination.

Except Momin, all his family members are AL supporters or activists. They joined the January 27 rally and his brother Siddik Ali and a nephew were injured in the attack.

During a visit to grenade-injured Siddik Ali and his nephew at Habiganj Sadar Hospital on January 28, Momin said the death of Kibria Shaheb has cleared the path for Quaiyum Bhai to become an MP.

Several people nearby heard the comment and one of them even admonished him not to say such things.