Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad has demanded immediate punishment for former post and telecommunications minister Abdul Latif Siddique just after his arrival in the country.
The JaPa chief made the demand in a view-exchange meeting with Jatiya Tanti Party held at the party’s Banani office in the capital yesterday.
Ershad said: “Democracy cannot be established without good governance. Now we have one-party democracy in the country. Corruption is spreading everywhere in the country.”
He claimed that the fates of the general people remain unchanged, although the government changes.
“We often hear that the BNP is planning for street movement, but we do not see them on streets. Time for their movement is changing again and again as like as civil cases.”
The party chief said, “People call me autocrat. But during my tenure, there were no killing, abduction and disappearances. Now people cannot even sleep peacefully. Is this what we call democracy? This type of democracy cannot save people’s lives. This is not democracy of people.”
Islamic parties’ ultimatum
Islamic parties have issued an ultimatum to the government to arrest Latif Siddique by October 22 for his comments on hajj.
Condemning his “controversial” remarks, the parties also announced a protest programme and special prayers in all the mosques of the country today.
Muhammad Zafrullah Khan, secretary general of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, announced the programmes at a press conference held at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday.
He said: “If the government does not arrest Latif within the deadline, we will enforce a nationwide general strike on October 26.”
While addressing a programme in the US on September 28, Latif made derogatory remarks on hajj, Tablighi Jamaat and prime minister’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy. His comments had sparked widespread criticism both at home and abroad.
Following the issue, the government fired the minister from the cabinet on October 12 and the Awami League removed him from its presidium body the same day and temporarily cancelled his primary party membership.
Islamic parties include Hefazat-e-Islam, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Khilafat Majlish, Khilafat-e-Islam, Islami Oikya Jote, Nejam-e-Islam and Muslim League.
