The New Nation - Internet Edition

ENA from Florida

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed has said the Council of Advisers of the caretaker government is usually appointed for 90 days. But since this government is to remain in power for two years, it is difficult for 11 Advisers to run the administration as each Adviser is in charge of four ministries.

About appointment of consultants, he said the government is examining the possibility of appointing "assistants" to the Adviser in accordance with the constitutional provision.

Earlier, General Moeen had a meeting with Congressman and co-chair of Bangladesh caucus in the US Congress Joseph Crowley.

During the meeting, Congressman Crowley congratulated General Moeen for assisting the caretaker government in carrying out the anti-corruption and anti-terrorism drives successfully.

The meeting was held at the office of the Congressman at Jackson Heights in New York City on Friday.

Crowley also told General Moeen that the United States always wanted to see a corruption-free Bangladesh and strengthening of the democratic institutions.

The US Congressman also thanked the Army Chief knowing that Bangladesh is heading towards an election according to the roadmap announced by the Election Commission.

Meanwhile, Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed, now visiting the United States, has said he took the loan from Trust Bank in accordance with the bank rules and has been repaying it every month.

"I have taken that amount of loan as permitted under bank rules and I have been repaying it every month," he told private TV channel ATN Bangla at JFK airport in New York yesterday, rejecting the allegation of irregularities against him outright.

The Army Chief said the question of taking a loan of Tk 1 crore does not arise at all. "I have not even taken a loan of Tk 60 lakh."

Replying to another question General Moeen said he repays the bank loans from the money he gets from house rent every month. All these are documented, he added.

The Army Chief said since the prime task of the present government is to free the country from corruption, anyone from army, caretaker government and government officials should not get tangled in it. "Everyone should remain accountable."

ENA reports from New York: General Moeen U Ahmed has said that the information of taking Tk 1 crore loans from Trust Bank is "completely false and baseless, and attempt has been made to confuse the entire nation through this propaganda."

"I think it's a new system of abusing an individual," he said.

The Army Chief said Trust Bank is a commercial bank like other banks in Bangladesh and they also offer loans according to the existing rules. Trust Bank also provides house building loans.

He said the army officers get residential plots for construction of houses after being elevated to particular positions. "I have also got a plot in that way. My colleagues have built houses in their plots much earlier. But, I could not build any house for various reasons. When I was made the Army Chief I thought it would not be wise to make any further delay. I started the construction of my house as the Chief of General Staff. I do hold a detailed account of expenses for construction of the house. I have prepared the account of expenses for myself," he said.

General Moeen said he served at the UN Peacekeeping Missions about ten years ago. "I kept the amount received from there under the wage earner's scheme. I didn't spend the amount at all," he said.

"Besides, I worked at an embassy for several years. At that time I used to get allowance in foreign currency. I also saved some of the money from that allowance. I do maintain proper account of these amounts of money, because I filed taxes regularly. I had to mention about my income and expenditure in my income tax statement," he said.

The Army Chief said it was not possible for any army officer to build any house without taking loans from banks. "All of them took loans like myself. Some took loans from the House Building Finance Corporation, while some took loans from Trust Bank. Since the Trust Bank is a bank of the Army, none has to face any difficulty to obtain loan," he said.

General Moeen said he took loans whatever amount he deserved according to the rules. "I didn't take any additional amount. I took loan of Tk 35 lakh and completed the construction of my house using that loan. Later, I took decision to repay the loan as quickly as possible," he said.

The Army Chief said he received Tk 5 lakh as 'security money' and another Tk 5 lakh as 'advanced' when the house was rented. "In such a way I collected Tk 10 lakh. I have been repaying my loans according to my plan. I deposit whatever the amounts I received from the tenants against my bank loans," he said. "All these have been mentioned in my income tax statement."

General Moeen said, "I have the documents whatever I have said. Anyone can see these documents at any time. So, I took a loan of Tk 99 lakh and repaid Tk 66 lakh in the following year is absolutely a blatant lie.

"It is a propaganda against me which is being carried out intentionally. This propaganda is being carried out against me with an ulterior motive to destroy my image and undermine me before the members of the public. And, this propaganda has been carried out when I have come to the United Nations, and when the expatriates living in the United Kingdom and the United States have been extending warm welcome to me. Perhaps, someone could not tolerate this affection and love of expatriate Bangladeshis toward me and has resorted to making false, fabricated and baseless propaganda against me. But, I have nothing to say against such propaganda and spreading of lies. However, if somebody wants to know about the income and expenditure statement of mine or Trust Bank loan I will welcome him," he said.

The Army Chief said he had always been trying to remain transparent to his conscience. "So, I don't want to make any comment on such propaganda through Internet. There is no problem if anyone wants to know about my account officially or privately," he said.

When asked whether he believed that the relatives of any big fishes who have been sent to jails during the current anti-corruption drives was indulged in tarnishing his image socially, nationally or internationally, General Moeen said, "Perhaps, it might be. Obviously, it has been done being instigated by someone. Perhaps, they are trying to attract me to themselves. Those who were involved in corruption may think that they would be able to get rid of trouble if they could attract me to themselves."

The Army Chief also said there is no scope to play 'hide and seek.' "I have my tax return where all the information is clearly mentioned," he said.

Replying to a question, he said, "I got information 10/12 days before my arrival at the United States that a group was working with Trust Bank and there might be an attempt to spread confusing information involving me. I was also told which group was doing this. I rather thought that since the Trust Bank managing director is my elder brother there might be an attempt to do something involving him. In this regard, I want to make it clear that my elder brother was appointed the managing director of Trust Bank before I was made the Army Chief. It is known to all that my elder brother is one of the best bankers in Bangladesh."

General Moeen also said Trust Bank was on the verge of bankruptcy due to various wrongdoings of the previous managing director. "Trust Bank has succeeded to overcome a major difficulty after the appointment of my brother. Not only that, whatever the losses Trust Bank had incurred have successfully been recouped. This bank is also now doing well in the share market," he said.

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed arrived in the United States at the invitation of John F Kennedy School of Governance of Harvard University on October 17 last. He will address there on Bangladesh situation. During the three days of his visit to the US, he stayed in New York. The expatriate Bangladeshis accorded a warm reception to him when he arrived at West Palm Beach Airport in Florida on October 19. Ignoring the inclement weather, the expatriate Bangladeshis assembled at the airport and expressed their gratitude to him for carrying out anti-corruption drive to free Bangladesh from corruption. They also lauded the role of the army for assisting the caretaker government to contain terrorism, hooliganism and extortion in Bangladesh.

It may be mentioned that the only son of the Army Chief is studying in Florida. One of his brothers is also living in Florida with family. The expatriate Bangladeshis in Florida will accord a reception to the Army Chief on Sunday morning.