Video confce with Fakhruddin, Moeen likely

Bdnews24.com . Dhaka

A parliamentary watchdog is thinking of taking statements of former caretaker government chief Fakhruddin Ahmed and ex-army chief Moeen U Ahmed through video conference on the 2007 students-army violence at Dhaka University.

Rashed Khan Menon, chief of the sub-committee on the education ministry, told the news agency on Thursday: ‘Video conferencing with them is being considered in case of their failure to appear before the committee.’

He said committee members discussed the matter with the speaker.

Fakhruddin and Moeen, now staying in the United States, have been summoned by the committee, for the second time, to turn up on June 5 to explain their actions on the violence.

Menon said Bangladesh embassy in the US made the second summon letter reach Fakhruddin on May 19. Quoting family members of the retired army chief, the committee head said he was sick and undergoing treatment.

Fakhruddin, chief adviser to the 2007-08 military-backed caretaker government, and Moeen had expressed their inability to appear before the committee when it first summoned them.

They, however, emailed written statements that the committee rejected and insisted on their presence.

The sub-committee was formed on August 19 last year to investigate a ruthless assault on Dhaka University students by army personnel for several days in August, 2007.

The army men went on action after some students assaulted their officers following a row with troops at the temporary camp at university’s playground during a football match.

Hundreds of students alleged at the time they had been chased, beaten up or detained by the troops. Scores others were also sued.

At least two senior teachers were also detained, assaulted by army officers and sued for ‘treason’. They were later released.