Cross-section of people on Tuesday condemned former military ruler and Jatiya Party chairman Hussein Muhammad Ershad's claims that there was no way to put him on trial.
Many of them said continued blessing of bourgeois political parties and their dependence on him had encouraged him to make such 'audacious' statement.
Many of them said continued blessing of bourgeois political parties and their dependence on him had encouraged him to make such 'audacious' statement.
Ershad told newsmen in Rangpur on Monday that those who were relishing the idea that he could be put on trial, were mentally ill. 'There is no way to put me on trial. Those who are relishing the idea have not read the High Court verdict properly. They are mentally ill,' he said.
He said the High Court verdict had legalised all the good things done by his regime and forgiven the rest. 'There is no chance to put me on trial.'
'Those who want me to be hanged are having daydreams,' he said.
The High Court on August 26 declared illegal the Seventh Amendment to the constitution that had legitimised the takeover and the regime of Ershad.
After the ruling, Ershad met with Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister and chief of his Jatiya Party's main ally Awami League, on Sunday.
'Those who want me to be hanged are having daydreams,' he said.
The High Court on August 26 declared illegal the Seventh Amendment to the constitution that had legitimised the takeover and the regime of Ershad.
After the ruling, Ershad met with Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister and chief of his Jatiya Party's main ally Awami League, on Sunday.
About Ershad's comments, cross-section of people said after the High Court ruling declaring the Seventh Amendment to the constitution illegal, the state should take initiatives to put him on trial for sedition, violating military laws, killing people and unleashing oppression on democratic activists during his 'illegal regime' in 1982-1990.
Economist and political thinker Anu Muhammad said, 'Ershad was supposed to stay behind bars for his misdeeds but it was the bourgeois political parties which had rehabilitated him and they should be held responsible for his audacity.'
'Besides the parties, there are international actors of global capital who benefited from Ershad's policies such as strategic action plan and Ershad might think they are still behind him,' he said.
'After the High Court ruling, the people had expected that the government would take some action on its own in line with the ruling. But the reality is the prime minister had an hour-long exclusive meeting with him and after the meeting Ershad seemed doubly assured,' he said. 'Opinion polls in past two days indicate that the people do not think Ershad would face trial.'
'Besides the parties, there are international actors of global capital who benefited from Ershad's policies such as strategic action plan and Ershad might think they are still behind him,' he said.
'After the High Court ruling, the people had expected that the government would take some action on its own in line with the ruling. But the reality is the prime minister had an hour-long exclusive meeting with him and after the meeting Ershad seemed doubly assured,' he said. 'Opinion polls in past two days indicate that the people do not think Ershad would face trial.'
'Successive governments after 1990 had followed all the policies, strategies and practices of Ershad and it might also have made Ershad confident,' he added.
Rights watchdog Odhikar secretary Adilur Rahman Khan said Ershad was still liable to face trial for sedition, violating military rule, unleashing oppression on pro-democracy activists and killing a number of people, including Zafar, Zainal Dipali Saha and Dr Shamsul Alam Khan Milon, during his rule.
Rights watchdog Odhikar secretary Adilur Rahman Khan said Ershad was still liable to face trial for sedition, violating military rule, unleashing oppression on pro-democracy activists and killing a number of people, including Zafar, Zainal Dipali Saha and Dr Shamsul Alam Khan Milon, during his rule.
'People had expected some initiatives from the state after the High Court ruling. But the prime minister held a meeting with him…They might have discussed about their political strategies…Ershad's statements after that meeting indicates they want to protect each other,' Adil said.
Rights activist Shahriyar Kabir said that before giving the ruling on the Seventh Amendment, the High Court had issued a ruling cancelling the Fifth Amendment to the constitution and asked the parliament to make sure that the usurpers of state power violating constitution were put on trials.
Rights activist Shahriyar Kabir said that before giving the ruling on the Seventh Amendment, the High Court had issued a ruling cancelling the Fifth Amendment to the constitution and asked the parliament to make sure that the usurpers of state power violating constitution were put on trials.
'Both Zia and Ershad should face trial for sedition as they illegally seized the state power as the court suggested their trial. If the government with two thirds majority in the house fails to stop the way to illegal power takeover, it would create a black chapter in our history,' he said.
Shahriyar said that Ershad was encouraged to make such audacious comments as he was a major ally of the Awami League.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee member Tariqul Islam said Ershad's remarks had surprised him. 'I heard him saying so on television. Ershad had kept me in cantonment for six months and tortured me in all possible ways.'
Shahriyar said that Ershad was encouraged to make such audacious comments as he was a major ally of the Awami League.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee member Tariqul Islam said Ershad's remarks had surprised him. 'I heard him saying so on television. Ershad had kept me in cantonment for six months and tortured me in all possible ways.'
'Ershad must face trial and I would let you know after consulting lawyers if I would take legal action,' he told New Age.
The president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Monzurul Ahsan Khan, said the High Court ruling had said usurpers of power and violators of the constitution must be tried. 'Such illegal takeover will continue if they are not put on trial.'
'The present prime minister Sheikh Hasina and other political leaders, including me, were taken to the cantonment blindfolded and some were physically tortured after Ershad seized power illegally' he said.
The president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Monzurul Ahsan Khan, said the High Court ruling had said usurpers of power and violators of the constitution must be tried. 'Such illegal takeover will continue if they are not put on trial.'
'The present prime minister Sheikh Hasina and other political leaders, including me, were taken to the cantonment blindfolded and some were physically tortured after Ershad seized power illegally' he said.
Monzur castigated some left political parties for joining the Awami League-led alliance with Jatiya Party. 'After the High Court ruling, Hasina should oust Jatiya Party from the alliance and put him on trial, he said.
The general secretary of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, Khalequzzaman, said Ershad had shown such audacity taking the advantage of being a partner of the AL-led alliance which was now in power.
The president of the Workers Party of Bangladesh, Rashed Khan Menon said they were always against illegal military rule. 'We would speak about our strategy on the court's ruling and statements by Ershad after consulting our lawyers,' he said.
The general secretary of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, Khalequzzaman, said Ershad had shown such audacity taking the advantage of being a partner of the AL-led alliance which was now in power.
The president of the Workers Party of Bangladesh, Rashed Khan Menon said they were always against illegal military rule. 'We would speak about our strategy on the court's ruling and statements by Ershad after consulting our lawyers,' he said.
Playwright Mamunur Rashid said Ershad should face trial for his every misdeed. 'It was a shame for us that a martial law administrator had seized state power and made a Supreme Court judge the president ruining the image of judiciary. We have to do away with it for good.'
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