BNP asks Inu to stop lecturing on democracy, reminds JaSaD’s tainted post-1971 past

The BNP has asked Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSaD) chief Hasanul Haq Inu not to give advice about democracy since his party played an anti-democracy role after the War of Independence.

Information Minister Inu has harshly criticised BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia recently for her remarks that there was no democracy in Bangladesh and asking the government to restore it.  
 
Inu on Sunday said, “Khaleda Zia herself has discarded democracy by throwing petrol bombs and grenades along with the terrorists and saboteurs.”
 
Responding to his remarks, acting BNP spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon at a press briefing on Monday said, “This Inu is now preaching about democracy. What a joke!”
 
“We would like to ask Mr Inu to not give lectures about democracy and remind him that they have been the enemies of democracy all the time.”
 
He said JaSaD and its ‘terror group’ Ganabahini were responsible for leading Bangladesh into a volatile situation between 1972 and 1975.
 
Ripon also demanded investigation into their role during that time.

JaSaD had severed ties with Awami League after Bangladesh became independent in 1971 and opposed the then government led by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
 
But the party joined the Awami League-led coalition in the 1980s and is still a member of the alliance.
 
Regarding the party’s role between 1972 and 1975, JaSaD MP Badal said in Parliament earlier this year they were now ‘making amends for the mistakes’ made during that time.
 
“Not just us, your (JaSaD) misdeeds are being pointed out also by the high-up of the ruling party,” Ripon said.

The BNP international affairs secretary’s jab at JaSaD, however, came hot on the heels of Awami League Presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim’s remarks.
 
Media reports said Selim on Sunday alleged that JaSaD was responsible for creating the ground for the assassination of independence architect Bangabandhu.