Kibria Killing
SC stays case proceedings
Staff Correspondent
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. Earlier on May 4, the tribunal judge adjourned the trial for 10 days as the complainant prayed for four weeks' time to appeal after his prayer for further investigation was rejected. Complainant of the case, Habiganj Awami League (AL) leader Abdul Majid khan, then filed a petition in the HC challenging the Sylhet Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal's rejection of his prayer for further investigation into the case. The HC bench on May 14 ordered the government to explain within two weeks as to why the ruling of the Speedy Trial Tribunal should not be declared illegal and without lawful authority. The bench also stayed all proceedings of the case until disposal of the rule. The government then moved to the SC against the HC order and filed a leave-to-appeal petition that full bench of the SC granted yesterday. Additional Attorney General Abdur Rezzak Khan moved for the government while Dr Kamal Hossain moved for the complainant of the case. Former finance minister and AL lawmaker Kibria was killed in a grenade attack at Baidderbazar in Habiganj after a party rally on January 27, 2005. Habiganj AL leader Majid Khan filed two cases -- one for the killing and the other under Explosives Substances Act. Criminal Investigation Department (CID) submitted a charge sheet in the murder case on March 20, 2005. Since then, Kibria's family as well as the complainant have been calling for further investigation as they pointed out the investigation was not properly done. Eight of the 10 charge-sheeted accused are behind bars now. They are Habiganj district BNP Vice-President AKM Abdul Quayyum, Joynal Abedin Jalal, Jamir Ali, Joynal Abedin Momin, Tajul Islam, Shahed Ali, Selim Ahmed and Ayat Ali. The other two -- Muhibur Rahman and Kajal Miah -- have been on the run since the gruesome killing.
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