The Jatiya Sangsad speaker, Abdul Hamid, on Monday asked the government to come up with a statement in the parliament on the reported connection with extremists of the last military secretary of the president as early as possible. ‘This is a serious point that has been raised on the parliament’s floor. The government should probe the matter seriously and inform the parliament of its findings as soon as possible,’ the speaker told the MPs after issuing a ruling on a point raised by Suranjit Sengupta, senior lawmaker of the Awami League.

Suranjit referred to a newspaper report published on Sunday which said that the president’s former military secretary, Ehteshamul Haq, had links with Islamist militants and had helped the militants who had tried to bomb Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when she went to Sylhet in 2001. Two persons were killed in the attack. Suranjit said that the plaintiff and the accused in the lawsuit, lodged in connection with the attack, have reportedly said that Ehteshamul had assisted the extremists to launch the attack when he was stationed in north-eastern Sylhet. The matter has been discussed across the country after it was flashed in the newspaper report and many eminent persons have expressed concern over it.

‘The government should tell the parliament and the people the facts as soon as possible,’ said Suranjit, adding that the prime minister, who is in charge of the defence ministry, or anyone on her behalf could issue a statement on the accusation. He said that according to the press reports Ehteshamul has been transferred to Rangpur as General Officer Commanding. ‘I don’t know whether he was promoted or demoted, as the allegation against him was serious.’ The defence service rules stipulate that a Court of Inquiry should have been set up immediately to look into the allegations, and he should not have been given any responsibility unless he was proved to be innocent, said Suranjit. Unless the government is not sure that he is innocent it is not safe to give him an important position like the GOC of Rangpur cantonment.

‘I hope the government will immediately issue a report on the matter as the Awami League has assumed office to fight militancy,’ said Suranjit. Raising another point, chief whip Abdus Shahid referred to newspaper reports that the parliament is dysfunctional because the main opposition party [BNP] is abstaining from parliamentary proceedings. Responding to the point, the speaker said that the parliament is functional and vibrant, but it would have been better if the opposition lawmakers had attended the sessions regularly and participated in the proceedings.

-New Age

Suranjit seeks govt statement on Ehtesam’s militant link

The Daily Star: Awami League leader Suranjit Sengupta today urged the government to inform the parliament as soon as possible about the president’s ex-military secretary Maj Gen Ehtesam’s alleged link with militants. Taking the floor on point of order, Suranjit, also chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on law, justice and parliamentary affairs ministry, said, “I hope the government will act quickly and investigate the matter because this is a very serious issue.” He said if such allegation comes up against any army personnel there should be an Inquiry Court as per army rules to probe the matter and restrain him from performing any kind of duties.

Suranjit wanted to know how Ehtesham could be made the GOC of Rangpur from the military secretary to the President following a press report about his alleged link with militants. “I simply don’t understand whether this is a promotion or demotion. Is this safe to leave Rangpur Cantonment under his jurisdiction if he is linked with militants?” Sengupta said the whole nation is eagerly waiting to hear from the government what is actually going on. “I had thought the minister responsible for defense would come up to make a statement in Parliament to assure us,” he said. Later, Speaker Abdul Hamid Advocate said, “The matter is very serious. The government should take it seriously and inform Parliament as soon as possible about it.”