Foreign Minister ASM Mustaftzur Rahman informed Ctrl lament yesterday that ajor (Retd) Sharlfu) Huq Daltm and three other diplomats. who were allegedly involved In killing of Sheikh Mujlbur Rahaman in 1975, were appointed ambassadors by the past government but parried the question of their promotion by the present government.

The Foreign Minister's statement came In the House yesterday following Awami League leader Abdus Samad Azad made an allegation the day before that the present BNP government had appointed the killers of Bangabandhu' the country’s ambassadors In foreign missions. The Foreign Minister said that Dalim was promoted to the rank of Joint Secretary on September 1, 1987 white S H M Nur Chowdhury. A K M Muhiuddin Ahmed and Shariful Islam were promoted to the same rank on December 18, 1989.

A joint secretary, according lo the Bangladesh Civil Service rules, is eligible for the post of an ambassador of Grade- C, so Dalim was appointed High Commissioner in Kenya on December 14, 1988. the

Foreign Minister added.

The Foreign Minister reminded that there was a parliament at that time when the present Leader of the Opposition held the same position.

A number of Awami League MPs raised hue and cry as Mustafiz concluded his statement. Taking the floor Opposition Chief Whip Mohammad Nasim said the . Foreign Minister sidetracked the main question of giving promotion to the self-confessed killers by the present BNP government.

Nasim who gave a notice oh this issue on Monday said that laic President Ziaur Rahman absorbed the killers of Bangabandhu in foreign service. ousted President Ershad retained them in the service while the present elected government of BNP promoted them to the post of ambassadors.

"It's unfortunate that self-confessed killers of Bangabandhu. were given promotion by an elected government and the Foreign Minister avoided that in hts statement," Nasim said.

Speaker Shaikh Razzak All adjourned the House till 2 pm today without allowing further discussion on the issue.