A leader of Jatiyatabadi Chhtra Dal on Saturday threatened liberation war veteran Zafrullah Chowdhury for making comment on Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman.
The JCD leader made the threat when Zafrullah, also the founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra, was speaking at a programme organised by the Education Reform Initiative at the National Press Club.
At one point in his speech, Zafrullah said, ‘I often ask Tarique Rahman to keep silent for at least two years and do some study as there were huge opportunities of education in London.’
JCD vice-president Omar Faruk Kawsar, who was present in the meeting, stood up and questioned at top of his voice, ‘Who are you in BNP? Why are you making controversial comments over BNP?’
‘No, I am nobody in BNP. But I have a democratic right to talk on it,’ responded the veteran freedom fighter.
‘No, please [Zafarullah] speak about other things, not about our [BNP] leader as you are nobody in BNP,’ Omar argued.
Zafarullah, at this point, responded, ‘Of course, I am nobody in BNP. But I am talking for your benefit. Your people do not understand your own benefits.’
‘Of course, we understand. We are aware of our benefit and you think about your own. Don’t make any comment about our leader,’ the JCD leader said.
‘If you continue to talk about our leader, we will not be responsible for any consequences,’ Omar threatened Zafrullah and left the venue with his followers.
Zafurullah continued his speech in the programme.
He said that change of power would not be possible through instruction from abroad because a collective effort was a must to do so.
About the JCD leader’s reaction, Zaffarullah said that it was an example of a ‘one-man show’ that was also being taken place in Awami League too.
‘Such a "one-man show" will destroy the country. One cannot be silenced. A man like me cannot be silenced. I am talking for the greater interest of the country,’ he said.
Presided by ERI chairman and BNP leader ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milan, former Dhaka University vice-chancellor Professor Anwarullah Chowdhury, Nagarik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, BNP vice chairman Shawkat Mahmud and National Press Club secretary Eleas Khan, among others, spoke.
