Hussein Muhammad Ershad’s Jatiya Party is now back to democracy, JaSaD President Hasanul Haq Inu has said, arguing for an alliance with Ershad’s party.
Inu, whose party blames Ershad for the killing of the party’s leader physician Shamsul Alam Khan Milon, said this after placing flowers at Milon’s memorial plaque at TSC crossing on the Dhaka University campus on Wednesday.
Milon, the then Joint Secretary General of the Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA), was shot dead by criminals, allegedly backed by dictator Ershad on Nov 27, 1990 on the Dhaka University campus.
The Milon’s killing had sparked the 1990 civil uprising against the military strongman, and the subsequent violent protests had forced autocrat Ershad to step down on Dec 6 that year.
The uprising gathered momentum after the killing of BNP’s student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader Najib Uddin Jehad, causing the ultimate fall of Ersahd’s government.
Inu, who is one of the leading leaders of anti-Ershad movement, said, “Democracy has been maintained in politics for the last 23 years, except two years (2007 to 2008).”
“Jatiya Party has also come back to democracy, leaving behind its autocracy.”
Selina Akhter, mother of Dr Shamsul Alam Khan Milon, who was killed during the anti-Ershad movement, has been criticising the alliance of various political parties with the fromer autocrat’s party for long.
JaSad is one of the major allies of the Awami League-led Grand Alliance.
The Jatiya Party had quit the alliance but they are together in the election-time government.
About keeping on alliance with Jatiya Party in the present circumstances of the country, Inu explained, “The bigger challenge now is to face war criminals, militancy and sabotage.”
“Jatiya Party has also taken up this challenge; so the 14-party has ties with them.”
About the current political situation, he said, “The announcement of the election schedule has nothing to do with dialogue.”
“The possibility of a dialogue has not run out yet. There can be a dialogue till selection and cancellation of candidacy is over.”
On Wednesday morning, various political parties as well as JaSad paid respects to Milon by laying flowers at the slain physician’s memorial plaque.
Among the political parties taking part were CPB, BaSaD, Gonotantrik Bam Morcha, Chhatra League and Samajtantrik Chhatra Front.
Milon’s mother, BMA, Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad, Doctors Association of Bangladesh also paid their tributes.
Source: Bd news24
