Searching for the truth
AN inordinately long five years have passed since the assassination of Mr. Kibria, the former finance minister, but the nation, including the grieving family, is not sure that the ghastly tragedy has been fully and comprehensively looked into.
Allegations are there, and perhaps rightly, that the planners and the mischief-makers behind the scene have not been located and booked.
There are further allegations to the effect that investigative functionaries who have faltered and misled deliberately have been rewarded. In addition, the probe report initiated by the then political government has come under adverse scrutiny for alleged partiality and ill motive. All these make very disturbing reading and create a sense of despondency and helplessness that do not augur well for a supposedly democratic society.
Five years ago in this column this writer expressed the premonition that we have not been able to take a long hard look at the compounding tragedy that had a crippling effect on the body-politic and was impairing our democratic credentials. It was felt that all these talks of ensuring good governance sounded hollow if the state could not ensure unbiased and impartial investigation of criminal cases.
It is indeed a sad commentary that even now it needs to be remembered that in a criminal case the state is the complainant and the executive has to see that the ends of justice are met. When shall we realise that the inaction and incapacity characterising incidents like Mr. Kibria's murder hangs heavy on the national scene and raises concern beyond?
To recollect, the murder of Mr. Kibria has had ominous portents for politicians of the desired breed in Bangladesh polity. For Mr. Kibria had impeccable credentials in a scenario where many politicians have not been able to endear themselves to the community. His was a soothing presence in a culture of high emotion and garrulity.
The cruel annihilation of Mr. Kibria did send a disturbing signal to those who were desirous of taking to public life. In fact, well-meaning individuals who felt inspired to shake off their ambivalence and join public life experienced a rude jolt in his violent death, and were led to believe that politics uncomfortably remained the preserve of ill-gotten money and muscle.
It is in the context of circumstances stated hereinbefore that the proper investigation of politically motivated murders, especially that of Mr. Kibria, acquires special significance in that it establishes our credibility as an orderly and law-abiding society. Therefore, the pernicious slide towards an environment of pervasive lack of trust end confidence in the ability and impartiality of our investigative apparatus has to be halted.
Once again the obvious needs to be stated because we appear to be forsaking some of the primary state functions. The political executive must understand in no uncertain terms that investigation has to be the unaffected and unfettered jurisdiction of the investigator. The requirement is the empowering of investigators by lawful directives.
Our badly bruised administrative ethos needs to be repaired and restored to its rightful place. Insofar as proper investigation is concerned, concrete actions like proper registration of the case, apolitical energising of the intelligence network and unencumbered evidence gathering are the essentials. This is possible if political executives show adequate determination and agree to go by the book.
It would not be out of place to mention that institutional capacity building, insofar as it relates to scientific investigation, has not been accorded the due priority. This is also responsible for the demands raised for investigation by foreign agencies. Supportive action in this regard is urgently necessary for halting the disgraceful public admission of our operational inefficiency.
Let us remember that we run the grave risk of putting the future generation and ourselves in peril by our inability to ensure investigation in accordance with the dictates of law. The actual facts and circumstances need to be ascertained and placed before the court for adjudging the guilt. Mr. Kibria's killers need to be punished.
Muhammad Nurul Huda is a columnist for The Daily Star.
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