UN Dhaka office was used for 1/11 plots: Parliament Members Alleges
A national daily has reported through its reporter that two ruling party lawmakers on Monday censured the role of the United Nations office in Bangladesh for providing tacit support to a quarter leading to takeover of an unelected government backed by the military in early 2007. They made the observation while speaking on a general discussion on Democracy and Political Tolerance, marking the second international Day of Democracy sponsored by the International Parliamentary Union in line with a decision of the United Nations on December 13, 2007. ‘When the decision was made at the UN General Assembly in 2007 there was no democracy in Bangladesh. There was an illegitimate regime in our country. The 1/11 conspiracy was orchestrated using the Dhaka office of the United Nations,’ Rashed Khan Menon, a lawmaker of the Workers Party of Bangladesh, an ally to the Awami League coalition, said in parliament. Taking part in discussion, senior Awami League lawmaker, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, questioned the UN’s role in promoting democracy across the world. He particularly pointed out the role of the world body during the two years rule of a military-backed government in Bangladesh when many politicians were detained in custody. Selim asked what the role of the UN was when a move was on to establish an Afghan-model government in Bangladesh. He said the military-backed government made the parliament a prison and put the politicians behind the bar for months. ‘The parliament was made a prison for the politicians instead of a place to exercise democratic process. There was a move to depoliticize the country through implementing the so-called ‘minus-two’ theory. What was the role of the UN at that time,’ asked Selim, a former minister, who was detained by the military-backed government. He said the attempt for destroying democracy in Bangladesh began in 1975 through the killing of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding president of the country. Many of the killers are still at large living in other countries, he added.
‘The UN should take a move to send them back to Bangladesh to face trial for upholding democracy,’ Selim said. Parliament approved the notice for observance of the International Day of Democracy by voice vote after which a number of lawmakers, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, joined the discussion.
We appreciate the Parliament members who have raised the issue.We feel that there is a need for investigation by UN in this regard about the role of their Dhaka office. A letter sent by Dhaka office to the then Army Chief was the root cause of what happened later. UN would fail if they do not investigate this matter.
Similarly, the parties who backed 1/11 initially , even if they are beneficiary , should search their hearts in respect of their complicity .Unfortunately principles do not rule Bangladesh parties.
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