‘1/11 was staged to benefit AL’

 BNP Standing Committee member ASM Hannan Shah says it was orchestrated to bring Awami League to power.

Sumon Mahmud Chief Political Correspondent benews24.combdnews24.com
Published : 11 Jan 2013, 06:03 AM
Updated : 11 Jan 2013, 06:19 AM

BNP Standing Committee member ASM Hannan Shah on Friday said that the ‘one eleven’ was orchestrated in 2007 to bring Awami League to power.

The BNP leader, speaking at a meeting, said civilians were also part of ‘one eleven’ along with armed force’s Generals.

He also alleged that the then often-repeated ‘minus two formula’ was in fact a plot to minus Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman instead of the popularly believed Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina.

Hannan Shah, a former army personal himself brought allegations of ‘inhumane torture’ against Brig Amin, who he said was one of the prime big-shots behind the ‘one eleven’. He alleged Amin was a close associate of Sheikh Hasina.

In 2007, President Iajuddin Ahmed himself assumed the chair of Chief Advisor of the ‘caretaker government’ after Justice KM Hassan refused the position.

On Jan 11 2007, President Iajuddin Ahmed had declared a state of emergency amid formation of an army-backed ‘caretaker government’ led by former Bangladesh Bank Governor Fakhruddin Ahmed.

Fakhruddin took charge the next day. His tenure as the Chief Advisor saw Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia locked up behind bars on corruption charges.

Bangladesh also its main political parties witnessing ‘ups and downs’.

Hannan Shah referred to those times and pointed fingers to some in his own party and said the BNP had been unable to identify ‘moles’ who helped create the ‘one eleven’.

“Those who had spoken ill of Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman are still playing crucial roles in the party,” he said.

He mentioned that only six men and nine women BNP leaders had consented to sign a statement then demanding the release of Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman.