Rangpur JP against burial of Ershad in capital

RANGPUR, July 15 (UNB): A grave was dug in Rangpur for Jatiya Party (JP) chairman HM Ershad, who passed away on Sunday, as the leaders of the party's Rangpur unit on Tuesday announced to thwart any move to bury him in the capital.

On Sunday, party senior leaders decided to bury the former military ruler at Military Graveyard in the capital.

Protesting the decision, Jatiya party's Rangpur and Rajshahi units held a joint meeting at the party's Rangpur city unit office on Monday noon.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Rangpur unit JP president and Rangpur City Corporation Mayor Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa said they have decided to burry Ershad in Rangpur at any cost.

He said Ershad's body will be brought to Rangpur from Dhaka on Tuesday morning for a janaza.

"If any evil effort is made to take back his body from Rangpur after the janaza, our leaders and activists will resist it even, if necessary at the cost of blood."

Before his death, Mostafa said Ershad had expressed his desire to be buried at his Rangpur residence Polli Nibash. "So, we won't allow anybody to bury him at any other place outside Rangpur."

He also alleged the decision to bury Ershad at Banani Military Graveyard was taken as part of a plot to isolate him from common people. "We the people of northern region won't allow anyone to implement such a plot."

Later, Mostafa along with party leaders began the digging of a grave at Polli Nibash's Litchi Orchard.