Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 286 Thu. March 17, 2005  
   
Front Page


Habiganj By-polls
Reza Kibria not willing to contest


Reza Kibria, son of slain politician Shah AMS Kibria, dismissed the possibility of his contesting the parliamentary by-polls to his father's seat in Habiganj-3 as well as joining active politics.

"I don't think it is appropriate to contest any election at this time, given the law and order situation in the country. When the government is unable to provide security for sitting MPs, is there any reason to believe they will be capable of providing security for the candidates and the voters?"

Secondly, Reza pointed out the failure to complete the investigation into his father's killing and to arrest all the culprits. This, he said, is sending a very bad signal to the nation as a whole.

Talking to the UNB at his Dhanmondi residence yesterday, Reza said until an appropriate investigation is undertaken and real culprits are punished, it would be a very irresponsible precedence in that MPs could be killed to make their seats vacant and the beneficiaries of these killings would be allowed the opportunity to take their seats.

He said, "Some of these possible beneficiaries may be behind my father's assassination. The newspaper reports of involvement of local BNP has created a great unease in this respect."

Asked if he would join active politics, Reza, a professor of Griffith University, Australia, said being a teacher and editor, he feels that in both these capacities he could make useful contribution to this country.

About her mother Asma Kibria's joining active politics, he said, "I don't think she has such interest."

Asked if the Awami League is going to boycott the parliamentary by-election, he said, " I have no authority to speak on behalf of the Awami League."

Asked whether the FBI's involvement in the investigation has been shelved, he said: the government is obviously resisting the FBI agents' involvement, perhaps realising that the trail of guilt may turn in an uncomfortable direction."

About the ongoing investigation, he said, "No investigation that does not have the FBI participation under this government will be acceptable to our family."

To another question, he said they will gradually build up an international campaign to support their efforts in the country to bring his father's assassins to justice.