War probe chief under probe

Abdul Matin

The government will investigate if the chief investigator of the agency probing war crimes had been a member of Islami Chhatra Sangha, pre-independence student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami.
Home Minister Sahara Khatun yesterday called Chief Investigator Abdul Matin to her ministry to explain the allegation of his past affiliation with an organisation widely accused of crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.
The allegation is an embarrassment to the government that formed the seven-member war crimes investigation agency amid much fanfare a little over a month back.
Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder said, "We will soon open a departmental inquiry."
Talking to The Daily Star after a meeting attended by the home minister and the state minister for law yesterday evening, he said the chief investigator had clarified his position to the minister.
Addressing a roundtable on Friday, Prime Minister's Adviser Dr Alauddin Ahmed raised questions about Matin's political allegiance in the years leading to the independence war.
His remarks have created a sharp division among the government high-ups over the issue.
Some say the adviser did the right thing.
Others say he could have tried to persuade the prime minister to cancel the appointment, instead of going public with the allegation. Similar are views of some officials at the Prime Minister's Office, said highly-placed admin sources.
In efforts to put an end to the controversy, the government is going to ask Matin to leave the position, they added.
It appointed him chief investigator on March 25.
Though the home ministry was the appointing authority, it did not know anything about Matin before announcement of the appointment.
The ministry however had thoroughly examined the backgrounds and political affiliations of the other members of the agency and suggested the prime minister give her nod to their appointments, sources in the government told The Daily Star.
MATIN'S REBUTTAL
Matin yesterday refuted the allegation that he was a member of Islami Chhatra Sangha, which later became Islami Chhatra Shibir.
Talking to reporters at his office, he said he was neither a collaborator nor a freedom fighter during the Liberation War.
He claimed he was a freedom fighter at heart though.
About the allegation that he was a Sangha candidate in the students' union polls at Barisal BM College in 1963, Matin said he was an independent candidate and that Sangha had no existence in Barisal at that time.
"The government has appointed me the chief investigator and now if it wants, I will quit."
Referring to his Friday's statements, Dr Alauddin yesterday said he was partially quoted in the media, and it has created misperceptions among people.
"As some discussants raised questions over his [Matin's] political identity, I said, 'I don't know if the allegations are true'. However, we now have to look into the matter seriously. The allegations, if proven true, will have bearing on the trial process."
HOW HE WAS APPOINTED
Preferring anonymity, a senior home ministry official said Matin was never their choice. Rather, a few government high-ups opted for him at a meeting with the prime minister on March 24.
Matin was picked as chief investigator just before Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the appointment of the investigators.
State Minister for Law Quamrul Islam yesterday said Matin has been roped in for the task for his competency and professional integrity. "But some quarters are trying to create controversy for political gains".
Jatiya Party (Manju) Secretary General Sheikh Shahidul Islam who first raised questions over Matin's political identity, yesterday told The Daily Star that Matin was certainly involved with Islami Chhatra Sangha. "I said this in public after enough verification."
A veteran AL leader from Barisal division, who too was a student leader in the 1960s, also confirmed Matin's past affiliation with Sangha.
Obaidul Quader, a policymaker of the ruling Awami League, has meantime said the government must reconstitute the investigation agency in consultation with the experts.
"There is still time to correct mistakes. As questions have risen, the government should plug potential loopholes in the investigation process."