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This is really a good book, a great book, not only by name, but also in its contents.
The author Mohammad Shahjahan has very ably compiled the book. This is not all. He has added his editorial, words of significance, being inspired by the sheer greatness of Shah AMS Kibria both as a statesman and a scholar of high order and magnificence, and his serene personality in association with his love for the country and its people.
Shah AMS Kibria made his mark because of his scholastic achievements and practical performances in national and international arenas.
Nature had that way glorified his character. I had the privilege of going nearer to that heavyweight champion of our everyday struggle for existence. The Almighty Allah had gifted him with some of His greatest possible virtues. If I get a chance to become fair to my words concerning the personality of this great man, I might be happy. But here I intend to put a stop to this subject.
Anyone, who might have preferred to see the book, is apt to become an admirer of it. If anyone loves the great soul, Kibria, the former minister of finance, he will intrinsically develop a fascination for the book, particularly due to its text and artistic presentation of all write-ups included therein. The facial expression is the main thing one has to look for. No wonder, note the words 'A LEGEND'. Kibria was surely a legend. The golden treasures that Kibria reaped through his time and space will surely stand the test of time.
Shahjahan, editor of the compilation, has written a fine editorial. We are allured to remember some of his observations such as:
"As a finance minister, he introduced schemes under which the old men, women and the widowed and the abandoned women were given monthly allowances. He also introduced the scheme of rehabilitation of the destitutes under the name of Asrayan."
Somewhere Shahjahan shed light on the unforgettable scenario, which must have choked the voice of all persons who had seen it with tearful eyes.
Shahjahan noted among other things: "The most tragic part of his death is that he died without getting any medical treatment, although as a retired UN officer he was entitled to the best possible medical assistance anywhere in the world." There is not the least amount of disbelief in it. But nothing can evade the eyes of God, who is the best judge of all such things. We can just seek justice from Him. "As you sow, so you will reap." None can possibly deny it.
The book was enriched by the contributions of many writers and of them we remember the names of some exceptional personalities who are as follows:
KM Subhan, Abdul Maal A Muhith, Kabir Chowdhury, Dr Syed Abdus Samad, Syed Muzzem Ali, Muhammad Farashuddin, Dr Masiur Rahman, Moazzem Hossain, Hasnat Abdul Hye, Syed Badrul Ahsan, Enayetullah Khan, Dr Ajoy Roy, Dr Harunur Rashid, M Shafiullah, Zakaria Chawdhury, Dr Nazli Kibria and Dr Reza Kibria.
Cover designer Pankaj Pathak deserves our special thanks as he has documented one of the glorious sons of the soil. All of them, who care to collect and read the book, will definitely emerge with full satisfaction and come in line with the countless mourners, who rue the tragic death of a great soul. That was not a simple death. It was rather the death of honest feeling and good wishes. It came too early.
At the sad demise of Shah AMS Kibria, all our sympathy goes out to the bereaved family. May the departed soul rest in peace.
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