No talks with Jamaat-e-Islami’s friends, says Minister Maya

There will be no dialogue with those who align with Jamaat-e-Islami, Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Maya has said.

The senior Awami League leader made the comment from a human-chain protest at Bangabandhu Avenue against Jamaat’s countrywide shutdown on Sunday.

“There will be no negotiation with those who shake hands with Jamaat. No discussion or dialogue.

“There will be dialogue before the next election with a force (that upholds Liberation War spirits),” said Maya, General Secretary of ruling Awami League’s Dhaka Metropolitan unit.

“This strike intends to rescue war criminals and Razakars. The people of Bangladesh have rejected this plan by Jamaat. They will also reject BNP’s strike tomorrow.”

The Jamaat-e-Islami called countrywide shutdowns for Thursday and Sunday after the Appellate Division gave its verdict on the party’s executive council member Delwar Hossain Sayedee's war crimes on Wednesday.

It sentenced Sayedee to prison until death, reducing the death verdict awarded by International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Feb 28 last year.

The Jamaat’s key ally BNP followed by announcing a dawn-to-dusk shutdown on Monday to protest against the 16th Amendment to the Constitution passed also on Wednesday which will allow MPs to sack Supreme Court judges.

Life in the capital and outside remained fairly normal during the shutdowns called to press for Sayedee’s release.