General Moeen a Ex Student

One-eleven changeover: I did no wrong knowingly, says General Moeen

Priyo News Dhaka, Saturday, January 23, 2010 - 10:46pm Former army chief General (Retd) Moeen U Ahmed, who was the key man behind the one-eleven change over, breaking his silence refuted the allegations of politicians labelled against him. "I can only say that I did not do any offence knowingly," he said as the reporters asked him to comment about the allegations of torture and misuse of power raised by politicians and businessmen.

He also did not say anything clearly whether he would join politics. "Do you have any plan to join politics?" was the question from the press. Replying to it he said "I love this country equally as you do. I would like to stand beside the distressed people at times of distress. It would be my big achievement if I can do it." He was talking to the reporters after attending the 75th reunion function of the ex-students of Tejgaon Government High School at Bangabandhu Conference Centre in the city yesterday. It was his first appearance in any public function since his retirement from military job on June 15 last year.
The main opposition BNP and some influential leaders within the government have been demanding punishment of Gen Moeen as he was the key man behind the declaration of emergency in the country on January 11, 2007. Elected president by the BNP-led four-party alliance, Iajuddin Ahmed proclaimed the state of emergency.
Iajuddin had also administered oath to the caretaker government with former Bangladesh Bank governor Fakhruddin Ahmed as its head. But Gen Moeen has been accused of helping the caretaker government of Bangladesh to retain power for two years. The caretaker regime's anti-corruption drive has been praised and also criticised. Although never publicly admitted he has been identified as the main driving force behind the non-elected government but he has also been praised for not declaring martial law even though he had the opportunity to do so.
He and the government has been accused domestically and globally to de-politicise the country. Hundreds of political figures including two ex-prime ministers, ministers, lawmakers and local government heads were put behind the bars by the regime accusing them of corruption. Although some of these figures were notoriously corrupt, most of them do not have any specific allegation against them. Moeen was appointed army chief in 2005, during the term of the BNP-led government. The subsequent caretaker administration extended his tenure by a year. He retired from office on June 15, 2009, handing over power to General Muhammad Abdul Mubeen.
-New Nation