Babar gets bail in former finance minister Kibria murder case

A Sylhet court has granted bail to former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar in a murder case filed over the killing of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria.

Sylhet’s Speedy Trial Tribunal judge Swapan Kumar Sarkar passed an order granting bail to Babar.

Babar’s lawyer Md Shahiduzzaman confirmed about the bail.

He said, “Lutfuzzaman Babar sought bail on ground of illness through his lawyer, and the court granted it after a hearing.”

On January 27, 2005, former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria was killed in a grenade attack at a public meeting at Baidyer Bazaar in Habiganj Sadar Upazila.

A case was filed against Lutfuzzaman Babar, former Sylhet city mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury, and several central leaders of BNP in connection with the murder.

Other accused including Ariful Haque appeared before court in the case. However, Lutfozzaman Babar could not appear before court as remained in prison in Dhaka being convicted in multiple cases. Later, the judge granted bail to Babar.

Babar was arrested from his Gulshan residence in Dhaka on May 28, 2007 after the caretaker government took over power following the fall of BNP government. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against him on January 13, 2008 at Ramna Police Station in the capital for acquiring wealth beyonf his known sources illegally and concealing information.

Lutfozzaman Babar was also convicted in several other cases. Earlier, a court sentenced him to death in August 21 grenade attack case.

Lutfozzaman Babar was known as one of the most powerful persons after the formation of the BNP-led coalition government in 2001.

During his tenure as state minister for home affairs, he was at the forefront of discussions.