Ershad's magnaminity!

Former military dictator HM Ershad has 'expressed indignation' at why no monument has been set up in Dhaka to commemorate the sacrifice of Noor Hossain, who was killed in police firing during the movement against his military junta in 1987.

The Jatiya Party chief claims he did set up a landmark at the city's 'Zero Point' where Hossain was killed.

"Many comment about Noor Hossain but none built a monument for him," Ershad told a programme in Dhaka on Monday.

Juba League activist Hossain was shot dead at Zero Point on Nov 10, 1987 during anti-Ershad movement. He had famously painted on his body "Down with autocracy, let democracy be freed'.

Apart from Hossain, Juba League leader Nurul Huda Babul and Kishoreganj's labour leader Aminul Huda Tito were also killed.

The anti-autocracy movement gained momentum through their sacrifices and finally the Ershad regime was toppled on Dec 6, 1990.

Since then, Nov 10 has been marked as 'Noor Hossain Day' and the Zero Point has been renamed 'Noor Hossain Square'.

Ershad claimed he had kept in touch with Hossain's family.

"Everyone remembers Noor Hossain but has anyone maintained contact with his family?" he asked.

"I have. I located his home through a difficult search and went there after getting out of jail. I've met and consoled his parents and gave his father Tk 5,000 monthly," Ershad claimed.

The Jatiya Party chief further claimed he defied his supporters' warning and had visited the residence of 'Delwar' who was run over by a police car during the '90s movement.

"I had consoled Delwar's mother saying, 'mother, one of your sons have died but you have another. I'm taking your responsibility’," he said.

Now Prime Minister's Special Envoy Ershad took a dig at the ruling party saying: "Now-a-days Noor Hossains are killed daily and every day is a day for mourning."

An apparently frustrated Ershad said the nation had only witnessed politics marred by violence since his fall.

"I was called a dictator but all I wanted was to love the people. That's why I never practised politics of violence."

He said he was 'saddened' to see how people had no love for others these days.

"I was blamed if I wore good clothes and wrote poems. But I used to compose poems from my days in the army, I used to write diaries," he said.

Monday's programme was organised to remember former Jatiya Party presidium member Jahangir Mohammad Adel.

"He was like a friend to me," Ershad recalled. "Adel never left me although many did."