Khaleda urged to leave Jamaat’s side

Pro-BNP intellectuals have urged Khaleda Zia to cut ties with Jamaat-e-Islami to clear the path for forming a national unity against militancy. They made the call yesterday during a meeting at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, where other pro-BNP journalists and eminent personalities also attended. Seeking anonymity, a meeting source quoted Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury as telling Khaleda Zia that the anti-militancy national unity she was proposing would not be possible unless she severed all ties with political allies Jamaat. In order to make the unity a reality, political ties should be cut off with Jamaat like it was done in 1991, Zafrullah was quoted as saying. The BNP should also ask Jamaat to apologise for its role in the country’s Liberation War, the source quoted Zafrullah as saying. Barrister Rafiqul Haque, who was also present at the meeting, also called for BNP to disown Jamaat. Others present at the meeting urged Khaleda to organise a tea-circle discussion with other parties, including Awami League, as part of the party’s national unity programme. Khaleda said she would take the advices under consideration and give further directives on this regard soon.