KIBRIA KILLINGCharge-sheet a farce, says widow

Shafiqul Islam Milton
bdnews24.com correspondent

Dhaka, June 20 (bdnews24.com) ? The widow of murdered former finance minister Shah A M S Kibria has alleged that the 'real criminals' are not named in the supplementary charge-sheet of the case.

After the charge-sheet was submitted to a court on Monday, Asma Kibria told bdnews24.com that only the names of some 'small fries' of banned militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) were included in it.

The charge-sheet against 14 people, including ex-BNP state minister Lutfozzaman Babar, was pressed in the Habiganj Senior Judicial Magistrate's Court around 10:30am on completion of further investigation.

Investigation officer Mohammad Rafiqul Islam of Criminal Investigation Department of the police told bdnews24.com that hearing on the charge-sheet would be held on June 24 at Sylhet Speedy Trial Tribunal.

Former finance 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.

Abdul Majid Khan, then general secretary of Awami League's district unit and currently an MP, filed two cases over the incident.

CID officer Munshi Atiqur Rahman submitted a charge-sheet naming 10 people on Mar 10, 2005. But the High Court ordered further investigation into the murder when the caretaker government was in office.

Babar, now behind the bars in an arms case, was also shown arrested in connection with the grenade attack.

Another five accused, including HuJI leader Mufti Hannan, are also detained in jail.

'TOP OFFICERS HAD LINK'

Asma said, "There is a little difference between the supplementary and the main charge-sheets."

"Names of real criminals are not mentioned in the supplementary charge-sheet, too," she added.

She blamed the 'lack of sincerity of the investigation officers and the government' for the omission.

"The then government tried to divert the flow of the investigation. The caretaker government only followed it," Asma said.

She said she became hopeful about the trial of the case. "But I was frustrated after seeing the supplementary charge-sheet."

"The real criminals could be found if the government was sincere," she said.

Asked whom she suspected to be assassins of her husband, Asma said: "I can't accuse anyone as I am not the agency that was given the charge to investigate."

"But many top officers of the then government were linked with the murder," she added.

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Farewell match a 'farce' : Ballack

Berlin, June 18 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) ? Former captain Michael Ballack has described as a "farce" an offer to end his Germany career with a friendly against Brazil in August, saying on Friday he was not being treated with respect by coach Joachim Loew.

On Thursday Loew ruled out using the 34-year-old Bayer Leverkusen midfielder again, saying a number of talented younger players were now more important ahead of Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

The German football federation has offered Ballack, kept on as official captain despite recent injuries, a 99th and final international against Brazil.

"To call a friendly match that was arranged long ago a farewell match is a farce. I know I owe my fans this match but I cannot accept the offer," Ballack said in a statement.

"I found out yesterday, while on holiday, through an announcement that the national coach does not plan with me (in the squad) any more.

"The style and content of the statement (by Loew) are unfortunately exactly like the way he (has) treated me since my serious injury last summer."

Ballack, who has scored 42 goals in 98 internationals since making his debut in 1999, has not played for Germany since March last year after sustaining an ankle injury that forced him to miss the 2010 World Cup.

Germany finished third in that tournament in South Africa after fielding their youngest World Cup team in 76 years but Loew said at the time that Ballack would return as skipper once he was fit again.

Loew, however, has ignored Ballack's claims in recent months despite his recovery from injury.

The coach said on Thursday he repeatedly explained his views to Ballack and the player had understood.

However, the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich midfielder denied that was the case.

"The style and content of this piece of news surprised and disappointed me because it does not in any way reflect what the coach told me," Ballack said.

"If now they say that I and my role were treated openly and with honesty then that is hypocritical."

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