Kibria Killing: Motives for wiping out the vestiges of secular intellectuals Shabbir Ahmed It is increasingly becoming difficult to accept the killing of a renowned former diplomat and the ex- finance minister, Mr. Shah A. M. S. Kibria. The more we read the more we feel pain for the loss due to his premature death in the hands of the goons supported by a vested quarter. As a former high official of United Nations and of Bangladesh Government, he could easily enjoy his retirement without getting involved into the chaotic politics of Bangladesh. He could enjoy the retired life visiting friends and families in Europe, America, and Bangladesh. However, he did not do that. He chose to live permanently in Bangladesh. He did not even live in an isolated fashion in Dhaka. He got involved in politics to do good for the people of his motherland. As we read more and more after his death, we learn how he improved the economy of Bangladesh as a successful finance minister during 1996-2001. In particular, his tireless efforts (as the former finance minister) for the eradication of poverty by adopting various economic policies brought results to the impoverished nation. He was the pioneer in adopting many welfare programs for the poorest of the poor in Bangladesh. As a brilliant economist, he was able to create programs that helped flow money to the people of lowest rung in Bangladesh society. A few of the programs developed by him that aimed at widows, elderly people and flood victims, benefited millions of poor population in Bangladesh. The Bangalees will forever remember him with love and respect for what he did for the welfare of the impoverished millions. The brilliant people like Mr. Kibria are not appreciated by the present regime under Khaleda Zia and Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami. The educational qualifications of the present Prime Minister give rise to questions concerning her abilities to understand and appreciate highly educated people in Bangladesh. Her capabilities for generating and adopting policies for the benefit of a highly populous country Bangladesh are equally questionable. Her partner in power "Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami" is a top-ranking leader of the fundamentalist Jamaat-i-Islami, who is widely known as one of the war criminals for he played a very dirty game that led to the killing of Bangalees in 1971. Suppressing and killing of dissenting voices are natural characters of the present regime. As always, they use their cadres secretly to kill the renowned individual and use the law enforcing agencies to take necessary steps to conceal the facts. One can easily understand and find out that after taking over power in 2001, the gang of fundamentalists under the leadership of Khaleda Zia and Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami gave clear signals to their cadres to target the secular and non-communal intellectuals of Bangladesh. While secular and non-communal Awami League was in power, it was alleged that the fundamentalist cadres belonging to the parties under the present coalition government attacked and issued threats to many secular/non-communal organizations. During that time, there were a good number of accused criminals in various jails for the cases on Udichi murder, Journalist Shamsur Rahman killing, Ramna bomb blast, attempts for bomb blasts in Kotalipara, killing in a rally in Chittagong, killing in Church, etc. All these cases were either withdrawn or thrown into the cold storage after the fundamentalist coalition government came to power in 2001. It was reported and alleged that the present fundamentalist alliance government released all the criminals belonging to the fundamentalist groups. In addition, the government took steps to terrorize the secular intellectuals. They arrested, harassed, and tortured Professor Muntasir Mamun, Dr. M. Khan Alamgir, Journalist Shahriar Kabir, and many others without bringing any charge against them. By doing all these, the government created a congenial atmosphere for the killer terrorists belonging to the communal and fundamentalist groups to go after the secular independent-minded intellectuals and politicians in the country. The fundamentalist terrorists understood that they could easily get out of jail through the coverage and support from the present government. Many expatriate secular Bangalees were anxious and worried about the fate of the intellectuals living in Bangladesh after the present fundamentalist regime came to power in 2001. In particular, the Bangalees experienced the loss of a good number of intellectuals in 1971. The armed faction of Jamaat-i-Islami called Al-Badars and Al-Shams killed many great souls of Bangladesh at the fag end of their defeat in December 1971. The cowards killed many professors, doctors, journalists, and other professionals. Unfortunately, the party Jamaat-i-Islami came back to the politics through a series of conspiracies with the help of the present prime minister’s husband, a military dictator named Gen Ziaur Rahman. Gradually they have gained power in a coalition with the late military dictator’s party through a conspiratorial election in 2001. Now this vile group of the fundamentalists is ruling Bangladesh. Given the character of the present ruling class, it is a matter of concern for the safety and security of the secular-minded non-communal intellectuals in Bangladesh. With all our concerns, we observed how the gang of the fundamentalists was inspired by Maulana Delwar Hussain Saidee and others in the fundamentalist-dominated Bangladesh parliament to attack Professor Humayun Azad, who later died in Germany. They continued killings and issued threats to many secular individuals. Finally, the terrorists killed a brilliant economist, a renowned diplomat, and a successful former finance minister. The pattern of the killings suggests that the terrorists have targeted the intellectuals belonging to or close to a secular and non-communal party Awami League. The terrorists want to destroy the think-tank of this party. Of course, Mr. Kibria was the most brilliant thinker behind Awami League, who helped this party to win election in 1996. Later, he worked extremely hard to uplift the economy of the country ruled mostly by the martial and semi-martial regimes. The terrorists belonging to the fundamentalist groups never consider the intellectual abilities of a respected individual. In fact, their prime targets are the intellectual people in Bangladesh. Like Talibans, the fundamentalists would not appreciate the qualifications of a respected person. In Bangladesh, the semi-fundamentalist cadres belonging to Khaleda Zia’s party have joined hands with the hardcore fundamentalist Jamaat-i-Islami. That is why, it is alleged by all quarters that the terrorists belonging to the ruling alliance are responsible for the killing of Mr. Kibria. How will the protectors of the terrorists provide justice to such a high-profile killing? With this question in mind, how long the people of Bangladesh have to wait to watch the staged drama of the investigation performed under the supervision of the actors belonging to the ruling fundamentalist alliance? In fact, ambassadors of many countries including USA have expressed their doubt and concern about the ability and sincerity of the present regime of Bangladesh to catch and try the killers. Consequently, the family members of Mr. Kibria and the conscious people are raising the legitimate demand for an independent international inquiry into the killing. As reported, FBI, the federal agency of the U.S. government, would investigate only if they are given full access during investigation. In fact, this present government has lost trust both at the national and international levels. They should accept the reality and take responsibility before it is too late. The sooner they realize, the better it will be for the image of the country. With their departure from power, Bangladesh will be able to get a chance to advance toward secular democracy and try the killers belonging to the fundamentalist and semi-fundamentalist groups who are actively involved in the killings of intellectuals for paving the way for the Talibanization of Bangladesh. --------------------------------- Dr. Shabbir Ahmed, a research engineer and cyber commentator, writes from Jacksonville, Florida, USA    ©  Mukto-Mona ============== Also Read: Appeal to Overseas Bangladesh Communities Asma Kibria Kibria Family took position on the road as a mark of protest Ajoy Roy We Will Not Rest Until Justice is Done Reza Kibria Appeal to the Freedom Fighters of Bangladesh Asma Kibria Urgent Message from Dr. Reza Kibria and Nazli Kibria An afterthought of grenade attack in Habiganj Shabbir Ahmed Bangladesh is now in the radar screen A.H. Jaffor Ullah AMS Kibria Killed by Grenade throw: A Tribute  Ajoy Roy How long this bloodletting could continue?  A.H. Jaffor Ullah Kibria's Assassination : Islamist-Terrors Gave Justification To Eliza's Article Maksud Labib Scholars, Stand Against Attacks and Extermination of Bengali Scholars, its Culture and Heritage in Bangladesh  Abdul Momen International news media on Kibria's assasination fwd: Jahed Ahmed Govt. lost its moral right to rule Bangladesh BO Editorial ei desh,ei janapod [Bangla]  Nondini Hossain Du:shopner Ditiyo Prhor [Bangla] Avijit Roy   more on Kibria in MM forum..