BNP blasts Ershad for remark against Zia

BNP lambasted Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad for his remark that Ziaur Rahman had come to power wading through blood and branded him as the main promoter of spoiled politics.
Addressing a discussion programme Saturday, BNP spokesman Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called upon the former military dictator to seek apology for this ‘false’ remark about BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, according to a news agency.
Referring to an article of Ershad published in a national daily, the BNP leader said, “Ershad said Ziaur Rahman had assumed office walking over blood. In his open letter in the newspaper, he had resorted to falsehood to hush up his offences. We strongly condemn his remark and urge him to seek apology.”
Sammilita Nagarik Committee arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Cub, demanding the release of ex-BNP MP Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu.
Fakhrul, also the party acting secretary general, said Zia had not grabbed power as he was rather given the charge to run the state through a  civil-military uprising.
He alleged that Ershad had grabbed power with guns by ousting an elected and democratic government in 1982. “Ershad is the main promoter of the country’s contaminated politics. He had annihilated democracy.”
The BNP leader also came down hard on Prime Minister’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and some ministers, including Hasanul Haq Inu and Quamrul Islam, for what he said their indecorous remarks about BNP and its senior leaders. “The language they use in their speeches is devoid of political etiquette. They speak in this fashion as they think Bangladesh is their paternal property.”
He demanded the government arrange a fresh election immediately to overcome the ongoing political crisis.
The BNP leader urged his party men to get ready for waging a strong movement to force the government to concede to their demand for a fresh election under a non-party administration.