Lawmakers from the Awami League and its coalition partners yesterday demanded that an investigation commission be formed to try the people behind the 1/11 political changeover of 2007.
While taking part in the parliamentary discussion on the president’s speech, they underscored the need for constituting a commission to unmask the masterminds who tortured politicians during the emergency regime of two years from January 2007.
Addressing the discussion, Health Minister Mohammed Nasim said no development of the country could be thought of without politicians, but it was politicians who were stigmatised at that time.
Regarding recent remarks by The Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam, the minister said admission of fault was not enough as such mistakes caused politicians to land in jail.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, who led the parliamentary sub-committee to probe incidents of army repression against Dhaka University teachers and students during the last caretaker government, expressed his dissatisfaction over the unimplemented recommendations by the sub-committee.
He suggested constitution of a commission with a retired justice of higher judiciary to investigate all the incidents, particularly of the depoliticising moves by the caretaker regime.
Awami League lawmaker AFM Bahauddin Nasim said those who were behind the military-backed interim government would be brought to justice so that no one dares to commit such an incident in the country in future.
The Awami League organising secretary said Mahfuz Anam’s admission that army intelligence officials had prodded the paper to publish articles containing allegations of corruption against top politicians in 2007 and 2008 portrayed how politicians were stigmatised. “If politicians commit mistake they land in jail; others just say sorry and get rid of the mistake.”
Information Minister Hasanul Huq Inu said criticising editors does not mean that freedom of expression is hampered.
He also said there is no democratic deficit but there is democratic danger. “What is the parameter of democracy — rule of law, rule of elected representatives, freedom of expression and so on and all these parameters are active.”
Menon criticises EC
On another note, Menon accused the Election Commission of not taking appropriate steps in ensuring free and fair local government polls.
“Lots of allegations are pouring in at the Election Commission. But the Election Commission took no initiative to investigate the complaints,” the minister told the parliament.
Citing an example, Menon, also the president of Workers Party, said that his party-nominated candidate was physically assaulted for submitting nomination paper in the upcoming Union Parishad polls.
He also said people will lose confidence on the electoral system if the trend of stuffing ballot boxes and capturing polling stations at local government election continues.
