Hussein Muhammad Ershad has asked the BNP not to consider him ‘weak’. The Jatiya Party Chairman’s made the remark on Saturday in response to the BNP leaders’ criticism over his decision to participate in the national election after quitting the ruling Grand Alliance.“I’m loyal to the people, not to you [BNP]. Why it’s a big issue for you if I go to polls?” Ershad asked while addressing a rally in the capital.
The rally was organised in front of the party’s Bijoynagar central office by its youth wing, Jatiya Juba Sanghoti.
Ershad had said that his party would not go to polls if BNP did not participate in it. But recently he changed his view and decided to take part in it ‘for the sake of the party’.
Criticising his decision, several BNP leaders including its Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan had called him ‘a two-faced politician’.
On Thursday, a garland of shoes was also put on the Jatiya Party Chairman’s poster during a programme in front of the BNP office in Chittagong.
Ershad expressed frustration over the BNP’s attitude. “Don’t try to scare me. I don’t believe in conflict, but don’t even think I am weak.”
“I do have thousands of supporters. You’ll get a tit for tat response. We know how to do that.”
“Who are you trying to scare? With what? You are burning people to death and killing children. How will you show your face to the people for these crimes?” he asked addressing the BNP leaders.
He also slammed the main opposition for threatening to ‘cripple Bangladesh’.
“Why are you giving threats? Is there a famine or epidemic in the country? Why would people support your strikes and blockades? We reject these strikes and blockades.”
The former military dictator, however, urged the BNP to join the polls.
“I’ve said this earlier and saying it again. Leave conflict and violence and choose the path of democracy. Participate in the election.”
“There is no alternative, you [BNP] will have to participate. You’ll have to take part in the polls to get rid of this corrupt government,” he said.-bdnews24.com
