Jatiya Oikyafront leader Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday reacted angrily to some reporters' queries regarding his position on Jamaat-e-Islami.

After paying tributes to martyred intellectuals at Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in the city's Mirpur, the eminent jurist faced a barrage of questions from the media.

He told reporters that the Oikyafront was going to “liberate the country from those who were working against the dream of liberation”.

“They will be defeated by the people of the country even if they are strong.”

But Dr Kamal apparently lost his temper when one of the reporters drew his attention to some Jamaat leaders' participation in the December 30 polls despite the cancellation of its registration with the Election Commission.

The Oikyafront leader said he would not say anything about the issue at the Memorial. “Not now, not now. No question here. No talks here, outside. No more talks at the Shaheed Minar.”

But the reporters kept asking questions.

As a journalist repeated the question, Dr Kamal, visibly shaking in anger, said, “No question arises at all. [These are] useless talks.”

“How much have you been paid to ask these questions? From whom do you get the money to ask such a political question at such a place?” he asked the reporter.

Two Oikyafront leaders tried to calm him down. Some leaders were heard telling the reporter not ask the question there. But another reporter went on to ask more questions.

Then he asked the reporter, “What's your name? [I] will keep you in mind. You insult the Shaheed Minar after getting paid. I wonder.”

“Think of the martyrs. Why are you laughing?”

“Think of the martyrs.”

Facing a volley of questions from reporters, he said, “Shut up. Just shut up.”

“I wonder. What's your name?”

As the reporter replied, Dr Kamal said, “Which newspaper do you work for?”

Hearing the reply, he said before walking away, “I will keep it in mind.”

GD FILED AGAINST DR KAMAL

A general diary was filed against Dr Kamal with Kushtia's Islamic University Police Station last night over allegedly threatening journalists and damaging their image.

Mustafizur Rahman, lecturer of folklore studies at the university, lodged the GD over the incident near the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in Dhaka, said Ratun Sheikh, officer-in-charge of the police station.

Mustafizur is also the editor-in-charge of daily Bangladesh Somoy.

SM Tanvir Arafat Razib, superintendent of Kushtia police, told The Daily Star that they forwarded the GD to the police station concerned.

Our correspondent in Kushtia contributed to this report.