Several central leaders of the Jatiya Party (JP) have received show-cause notices and threats of suspension for violation of their party charter through participation in Hefazat-e-Islam protests.
The move by party chairman HM Ershad has created agitation among party leaders and activists since thousands of JP activists attended the Hefazat “long march” on April 6 and the “Dhaka siege” on May 5, following orders of the party chief.
On May 5, two JP leaders were killed and several others were injured as supporters of the Hefazat blockade and police engaged in clashes in the capital’s Baitul Mokkaram area. The two leaders were Jatiya Sramik Party Dhaka city unit leader Kazi Rakib Hossain and Jatiya Juba Sanghati’s Gandaria unit President Alamgir Hossain.
Ershad issued show-cause notices in this regard against the party’s joint secretaries-general Iqbal Hossain Raju, Alamgir Shikdar Lotan, Golam Mohammad Raju and Organising Secretary Mustaqur Rahman Mustaque.
Iqbal met the party chief and submitted his answer in person on May 25.
At the presidium meeting on May 21, Ershad asked his colleagues why they were involved in violence with the police. Pointing out their affiliation with the Awami League-led grand alliance government, he also inquired why two leaders of the party had to sacrifice their lives.
Sources at the meeting said JP Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader blamed the four leaders.
Leaders and activists of the party told this reporter that on May 5, several central leaders were present at the party’s central office on Topkhana Road and served Hefazat supporters water and dry food. They also played a key role in leading the party activists on that day and into the night.
These senior leaders are the party’s presidium members Kazi Zafar Ahmed, Kazi Firoz Rashid, Syed Abu Hossain Babla, as well as the four who were served notices, among others.
Party leaders allege that Ershad is making contradictory comments because he is facing pressure from the government regarding his extension of support to the Hefazat programmes.
The leaders claim Ershad ordered them to attend the Dhaka siege protest and to give food and water to the activists. It was while following this order, that thousands of party activists were caught up in clashes between police and Hefazat activists and some JP activists were injured.
After returning from abroad following the blockade, Ershad thanked party activists for participating in the Hefazat programme. Later in Rangpur, he said: “Activists from my party have fulfilled their religious responsibilities by attending the Hefazat procession.”
Now Ershad is taking a stance opposite to his original statement. He is blaming party leaders and members for attending the demonstrations and is threatening to take action against them, party leaders said.
JP sources said the party’s secretary general was scheduled to visit the party office in the afternoon. However, fearing police action, he turned back at Kakrail point.
The activists were asked to come to the office and were told that senior leaders were present there.
A central leader of the party told the Dhaka Tribune: “The order from the party chief was to serve water to Hefazat activists, not to be involved in clashes with the police. But following the order of some other party leaders, activists got involved in the clashes with police.”
The leaders, who have received show-caused notices, told the Dhaka Tribune that around 150 senior leaders including Kazi Zafar and Firoz Rashid played a key role in leading the activists in clashes.
However, none of them have received warnings from the party chief.
The party activists have demanded a probe on the agenda of Kazi Zafar and other top leaders who were present at the party office and led the activists.
A senior leader said: “The activists were injured while following the order of the party chief, who is now taking punitive actions against them. This is very unfortunate.”
