Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad yesterday claimed that violent incidents like the seven murders in Narayanganj were taking place because of political interference.
Ershad also said criminals were carrying out such crimes without any fear, believing that politically influential people would save them from punishment.
“If the government wants to bring an end to any type of crime, then it will have to stop politically motivated interference in such activities,” Ershad said while addressing a joining ceremony at his office in the capital’s Banani area.
The programme was held a day after Rawshan Ershad, leader of the opposition and JaPa presidium member, talked to the media, apparently without the party chief’s knowledge.
Ershad, who is also a special envoy to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said the country’s law and order situation would not improve until a true democratic government comes to power through fair elections.
“But I do not know when that time will come,” he added.
Commenting on the past tenure of the BNP-led alliance, the former dictator said: “The regime was not better as bombs exploded all over the country during that time, whereas, people did not face any such problems during my tenure.”
Meanwhile, party insiders said Rawshan did not inform Ershad before organising a meeting to exchange views with journalists at the parliament premises on Wednesday.
They also claimed that Ershad arranged yesterday’s event, which was announced through a press release on Wednesday, to counter Rawshan’s programme.
However, party secretary general Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu said yesterday’s function was pre-scheduled to welcome about 200 new members.
Ziauddin also denied rumours of an ongoing conflict between Ershad and his wife, Rawshan, saying: “A big political party has many problems, but there are no problems between them.”
Ershad was reportedly furious at comments made by Rawshan at a presidium meeting earlier this month and threatened to resign as chairman. He also sent a resignation letter to the party’s secretary general after the meeting, but withdrew it shortly.