Politicians facilitated 1/11 changeover

The masterminds would not have dared to bring the 1/11 political changeover in 2007 if the politicians had not helped them from behind the scene, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said yesterday.

He said at that time the prison was a learning centre for the politicians. "All of us, who were in jail and who were not, should take lessons from the 1/11."

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The minister made the remarks while addressing the unveiling ceremony of a documentary film on the life of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman titled "History's Great Hero--Itihasher Mohanayak".

Bangoz, which made the history-based documentary, organised the ceremony at the capital's public library.

The minister said many politicians supported the controversial activities of the military-backed caretaker government in order to get benefits from the 1/11 government.

He urged all to remain alert against any recurrence. 

Separately, he said several civil society members had created 1/11 with cooperation of some politicians.

"The civil society had a direct role behind the one-eleven changeover. The army-backed caretaker government was able to conduct anti-politics activities for them. Many of the politicians extended direct assistance to those controversial activities to get advantages," he told an opinion sharing meeting at Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) central office on Bangabandhu Avenue.

Quader said, "The Awami League is more organised now as it had learnt from that. But BNP could not take any lesson."

He said BNP had gone bankrupt in absence of honesty, courage and commitment.

Talking about the upcoming Union Parishad (UP) elections, the AL presidium member asked BNP to specify in which places BNP aspirants faced obstructions in submitting nomination forms.

The minister said BNP had not got candidates in many UPs, and for this its leaders were making false claims.

He dismissed BNP's accusation that the government did not approve of a venue for holding its council.

BCL organised the programme in the run-up to AL's rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan on Historic March 7.

BCL President Saifur Rahman Sohag chaired the programme while General Secretary SM Jakir Hossain spoke among others.