People terrified of Tarique

Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad yesterday said people were terrified of BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman's ascent to power.

"People think Tarique would rule the country if the BNP is voted to power. They freeze at the thought of Tarique. They fear that he would unleash more bombings, bribery and corruption," he said.

Ershad, also special envoy to the prime minister, called BNP's future "dark" and urged BNP men to join the JP.

The former military dictator made the remarks at JP's two-yearly council of Rajshahi city unit, which ended in smoke amid factional fighting right in front of Ershad.

The scuffle lasted about 20 minutes before police intervened.

In his address, after the clash, at Bornali intersection field of the city, Ershad called upon the party men to have faith in him, and said, “I am not announcing the committee right now. I will form a good committee returning to Dhaka."

The fighting took place between the faction of the council preparatory member, Shahabuddin, and that of the city JP general secretary, Shahabuddin Bachchu.

Meanwhile, some 111 JP men led by JP's former city vice president Basharuzzaman Hira resigned on Sunday night, protesting indiscipline in the party. Hira said the city committee was changed undemocratically four times in last one year.