Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad has said his Eid-ul-Azha prayers under heavy RAB and police protection after the party’s former presidium member Mashiur Rahman Ranga allegedly threatened him.
Ershad and his brother GM Quader are in Rangpur to celebrate the festival of sacrifice.
The two showed up at the Eidgah at around 8:30am on Monday, heavily guarded by RAB and police
File Photo
Responding to a bdnews24.com question about the tight security, the party’s Presidium Member Quader claimed Ranga had called him on Sunday and warned that Ershad might be in danger if he went to say his Eid prayers.
“To which I said, ‘you are going overboard, Ranga. Brother didn’t do anything wrong. He only asked [Jatiya Party leaders] to quit the Cabinet and play the role of the Opposition’,” he said.
Ranga rejected Quader’s claims.
“There’s no question of threatening sir (Ershad),” he told bdnews24.com.
“He’s my party chairman and also a relative. I only suggested to him (Ershad) to maintain caution as there had been trouble few days ago.”
Ershad expelled Ranga, state minister for LGRD and cooperatives, and Opposition Chief Whip Tajul Islam Chowdhury from the party’s presidium.
A new Jatiya Party committee has been formed in Rangpur, dissolving the earlier one led by Ranga.
Ershad has said the new committee would be in force.
It has fuelled tension between Ranga’s supporters and the members of the new committee.
People loyal to Ranga had clashed with supporters of those on the new committee on Oct 3 near Ershad’s Rangpur residence while they had gone there to greet him.
Several party leaders confirmed that the renegade Jatiya Party leader had said Eid prayers at the same Eidgah but did not greet Ershad.
Ershad said the Awami League and the BNP were his competitors, not Ranga.
“Rangpur is a Jatiya Party stronghold,” he told reporters. “I’m not afraid of anyone. The people of Rangpur will not harm me. They are with me.”
Ershad supported the BNP’s demand for talks when asked about the current political situation.
“The BNP wants a dialogue. A discussion must be held for the sake of maintaining peace and order in the country.
“There is no alternative to talks,” the former military dictator said.
Source: Bd news24
