Ministers Menon, Nasim demand commission to find ‘1/11 architects’

Two ministers have asked the government to form a commission headed by a retired judge to investigate the events during the 2007-08 military-controlled caretaker government’s tenure.

They have also demanded trial of Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam for running DGFI-fed unverified corruption reports against Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina at the time.

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

Menon, chief of Awami League’s ally Workers Party, said Anam’s admission to running the reports has flung the propaganda against politicians out in the 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 head the commission.

The much-discussed and criticised 1/11 event has been named after the date Jan 11, 2007, when the army had the then President Iajuddin Ahmed declare emergency and relinquish powers as chief advisor (head of government).

Fakhruddin Ahmed, who headed the military-controlled civilian caretaker government for two years, was sworn in as chief advisor the following day.

Hasina, now the prime minister, and BNP chief Khaleda Zia were among the top politicians 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 happen,” he said.

Health Minister Nasim concurred with 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 wash his hands of the responsibility for the character assassination of politicians.