Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad on Sunday met Hefazat-e-Islami chief Shah Ahmad Shafi and gave him an assurance that the JP, if voted to power, would help implement all demands of the 13-point charter of demands of the madrassah-based group.
In another development, JP presidium member Kazi Feroz Rashid told New Age that the party was likely to announce its decision to quit the Awami League-led `grand alliance’ at a press conference today. `A new political alliance may also be announced,’ said Feroz. Hefazat is campaigning for its 13-point demand that includes punishment to Shahbagh bloggers for allegedly defaming Islam and Prophet Muhammad (SM).
In the hour-long meeting, Ershad was said to have sought support of Maulana Shafi in the next elections but told newsmen after the meeting that he had met the Hefazat supremo to seek his blessing.
A five-member team led by Ershad reached the Hefazat office at Darul Ulum Muinul Islam Madrassah at Chittagong around noon and had an hour-long meeting with Shafi.
Quoting Shafi, Ershad told newsmen that the Hefazat chief had blessed him so that his desire was fulfilled.
The former military dictator also said that Hefazat-e-Islam was not a political party and brushed aside suggestions that he might form an alliance with the Islamist outfit.
Earlier, at a meeting of JP’s student wing on Thursday, Ershad had announced that he would launch a new alliance with some political parties and that he had also talked to some Islam-based parties.
After the hour-long meeting at the Hefazat headquarters on Sunday, Hefazat general secretary Junaid Babunagari said that Ershad had told the meeting that his party, if voted to power, would help implement the 13-point charter of demands.
The Jatiya Party chairman met Shafi to seek his blessing and assured Hefazat of taking initiative to implement its 13-point demand, Babunagari said.
Local lawmaker and JP presidium member Anisul Islam Mahmud and presidium member Ziauddin Ahmad Bablu were present during the meeting.
Ershad made compulsory the religious studies for schoolchildren, government holiday for Friday instead of Sunday and also inserted ‘Islam as state religion’ in the constitution during his nine-year rule in 1982-1990.
-With New Age input
