BANGLADESH

Son Reza Kibria has demanded that investigators question former speaker Jamiruddin Sircar over the killing of former finance minister Shah A M S Kibria.

He also thinks former Habiganj deputy commissioner Emdadul Haque needs to be interrogated in the matter.

Reza made these demands in a statement at a discussion on Saturday on his father's seventh death anniversary at National Press Club.

Former minister and Awami League leader Kibria and four others were killed in a grenade attack on an Awami League rally in Habiganj on Jan 27, 2005. Over 70 people were also injured in the gruesome attack.

Additional investigation is ongoing in the case.

"BNP-Jamaat government tried to manipulate this investigation. They wanted to shield the real conspirators of the crime and punish mere tools," Reza said.

"This investigation needs a brave and skilled police officer," he added, speaking on the family's position regarding the ongoing enquiry.

Reza Kibra remembered that after his father was injured, he had tried repeatedly to ask the then speaker Jamiruddin Sircar for a helicopter to bring him to Dhaka.

"But he bolted his door and stayed home. He did not even pick up phone calls. Later, he said at a press conference that he was sleeping," he added.

"I'm not saying he was involved in the killing, but he knew who was. If it can be found out on whose instructions he was sleeping that evening, the investigation will advance a long way," he said.

"Deputy commissioner Emdadul Haque did not provide police for my father's safety. He had contacted the then junior home minister Lotfuzzaman Babar and many others that day," he said.

Babar, who is in jail, is charged in both Aug 21 grenade attack and Chittagong 10-truck arms case.