Ershad's dubious character exposed again

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad addresses Hefajat-e Islam followers at Uttara in the capital yesterday. They were heading towards their rally in Motijheel. Photo: Focus Bangla

The role of Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad in actively supporting Hefajat-e Islam's long march yesterday left its ally, the ruling Awami League, baffled and doubtful about his intention.
The AL-led grand alliance leaders think Ershad has once again uncovered his “dubious” character and they would have to think twice about him before the next election.
AL's allies think Ershad's siding with Hefajat will widen the existing gap between the AL and the JP and encourage the opposition BNP to take him on its side.
Ershad has said he supports the demands of Hefajat and demanded that the government stops the “atheists” of the Gonojagoron Mancha.
The AL thinks that the JP has gone politically bankrupt and thus trying to bank on religion-based organisations and that it would not be surprised even if Ershad quits the grand alliance and joins the opposition in a “favourable” time.
“We never consider Ershad as a reliable friend,” said Rashed Khan Menon, president of Workers' Party, a key member of the grand alliance.
He said Ershad was the first person to want Islamisation of the country through amending the constitution. So it is normal for him to support an Islamist organisation, he added.
AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said the political parties which joined Hefajat's programme proved their bankruptcy.
“They [BNP and JP] have no political programmes themselves. By joining the religion-based organisation's programme, they proved themselves bankrupt.”
Home Minister MK Alamgir said, “People can't accept any suggestion regarding democracy from an autocrat and expect honesty from a dishonest person.”