Journalists have given Jatiya Oikya Front leader Dr Kamal Hossain a 24-hour ultimatum for apologising publicly over his reactions to some reporters' queries regarding his position on Jamaat-e-Islami.
The ultimatum came at a human chain organised by Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) in front of National Press Club in the city’s Segunbachia on Saturday (Dec 15).
The journalists’ bodies also announced that will hold a protest rally at the same venue on Monday (Dec 17) and stage a nationwide demonstration on Tuesday (Dec 18).
Kamal Hossain, who is the Gano Forum president, told reporters to ‘shut up’ and threatened to mark them after they questioned him about running under the same banner as Jamaat-e Islami as he went to pay respects to the Mirpur’s Martyred Intellectuals Memorial on Friday (Dec 14).
Kamala Hossain, who was once an Awami League leader, has allied with BNP to forge the Jatiya Oikya Front for the Dec 30 polls. He faced criticism from AL for allying with the BNP, which has granted its nomination to the candidates of Jamaat, the party whose leaders have been hanged for crime against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
Speaking at the programme, journalist Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury said, “How much money Dr Kamal has taken to advocate for the Jamaat.”
Chowdhury urged the pro-liberation forces to vote for (AL’s) ‘boat’ in the Dec 30 polls in response to Dr Kamal’s intimidating remarks.
Early in the day, Kamal Hossain, in a statement, offered his sincere apology if his words hurt anyone or made anyone feel uncomfortable.
Explaining the event which unfolded on the Martyred Intellectuals Day on Friday (Dec 14), he said, “While paying respects at the memorial I was just saying that we achieved our independence at the cost of so many precious lives. At that moment, at that place, I was suddenly asked about Jatiya Oikya Front’s stance on Jamaat. I replied that I prefer not to comment on that issue on a day which is deeply emotional for us all. I was again asked the same question and I gave the same reply.”