Actions on Hifazat harmful to democracy: Ershad

Jatiya Party Chairman Hussein Muhammad Ershad has termed the actions to drive Hifazat-e Islam supporters out from Motijheel ‘harmful’ to democracy.

Ershad, who is supporting the Chittagong-based radical group, said in a statement on Sunday: “The firing and attacks in the dark of the night on the peacefully demonstrating Hifazat supporters are unprecedented.”

“This sort of situation is not helpful for democracy, forthcoming elections and the Constitution.”

The former military strongman, who himself was pushed from office in a mass uprising, demanded judicial probe to determine the casualties of the late Sunday night drive.

On Sunday, anti-Ganajagaran Mancha Hifazat supporters wreaked havoc on the capital’s Paltan, Bijoynagar, Motijheel and Gulistan during their Dhaka blockade programme.

Scores of shops through the stretch of Dainik Bangla Intersection to Paltan were vandalised and set on fire during the mayhem. They were also simultaneously holding a rally at Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar.

Police and RAB drove away them out after Sunday midnight. On Monday morning, Motijheel was found to be in a mess with trees on the road dividers uprooted and signs of outraged vandalism.

Ershad claimed that Hifazat was not to be blamed for the violence outside its rally venue. “They held their rally in Shapla Chattar with permission from the government. The rally was peaceful. Hifazat cannot be blamed for what happened outside that area.”

He however, did not specify who were to be blamed for such violence.

In the statement, Ershad demanded punishment to those responsible for the Sunday casualties.

He urged the government to take initiatives for dialogues with all parties to restore normalcy.

Ershad’s Jaitya Party is a component of the ruling 14-Party Alliance led by ruling Awami League.