Ministers demand 1/11 commission

Menon-Nasim

They have also demanded trial of Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam for running DGFI-led baseless corruption reports against Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina, now the prime minister, during the caretaker government’s regime.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon and Health Minister Mohammed Nasim made the demands in Parliament on Sunday.

Menon, chief of Awami League’s ally Workers Party, said Anam’s admission to running the reports has made the propaganda against politicians public.

“Please don’t take steps against only one person. A commission has to be formed to understand the 1/11 events,” he said.

He demanded a retired Supreme Court judge to head the commission.

The much-discussed and criticised 1/11 event has been named after the date Jan 11, 2007, when the military-backed caretaker government of Fakhruddin Ahmed came to power.

Awami League chief Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP chief Khaleda Zia were among the top politicians to be arrested on corruption charges during that government’s tenure.

Menon recalled heading a parliamentary panel on the education ministry that summoned Fakhruddin and the then army chief Moeen U Ahmed in 2011 after investigating an assault on students by the military during their tenure.

“We recommended legal action, but that is yet to occur,” he said.

Health Minister Nasim backed Menon saying there should be an investigation into the 1/11 events.

He also said it will not suffice for Anam to merely admit to his ‘big mistake’ and walk out free after the character assassination of politicians.

Source: bdnews24