Dhaka, Nov 10 (bdnews24.com) — Deposed military dictator and Jatiya Party chairman Hussein Muhammad Ershad has questioned the motive behind observing Noor Hossain's death anniversary in such a special way, indirectly suggesting it was meant to vilify him.
"A special day is observed on this day. Even an avenue has been named after him," Ershad said on Wednesday at a programme organized by the Jatya Party to mark the "Democracy Day" at the Institute of Diploma Engineers in Dhaka.
"I wonder why the deaths of many other political figures are not remembered in as elaborate a fashion as his," he asked.
Ershad questioned as to why no avenue or street has been named or no special day observed for former Awami league leader and finance minister Shah AMS Kibria, Ivy Rahman and the farmers who were killed by police in Rangpur during the BNP's rule in the early 1990s.
As the military ruler, Ershad is held responsible for Noor Hossain's premature death. He was shot dead by police during a demonstration on Nov 7, 1986 near Zero Point (now named Noor Hossain Square) near Gulishtan.
On that day, along with thousands of prodemocracy activists, Noor Hossain took to the streets with the slogans "Down with autocracy" written on his chest and "Free democracy" on his back, which made him an obvious target for the police.
Ershad, however, claimed that he initiated the process of restoring democracy by giving a general election in 1986. "I withdrew military rule and created a new era of democracy in the country. Since then, democracy has been established in the country."
Emphasing that democracy will never be foiled again, he said his party had been working to strengthen it.
About the seventh Amendment of the Constitution, he said that the High Court verdict proved that democracy was established in the country in the last five years of his nine years' tenure.
JP secretary general ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader and its joint-secretary Alamgir Sikder also spoke on the occasion.
bdnews24.com/arr/skb/ta/am/1820h
