Jatiya Party leader Mashiur Rahman Ranga has apologised for describing Noor Hossain as a "drug addict" but said the young pro-democracy activist whose death sparked an uprising that overthrew an autocracy was "mentally unstable".
The Jatiya Party secretary general drew flak for his remarks made on Sunday (Nov 10), when Shaheed Noor Hossain Day was observed across the country.
"Who was Noor Hossain? A drug-addict, hooked on yaba, phensedyl," he said at a discussion organised by his party marking 'Democracy Day'.
Speaking to Bangla Tribune on Monday (Nov 11), Ranga said, "Yaba and phensedyl was not available when Noor Hossain died. Those were slip of tongue. But he was not mentally sound. I apologise for those specific remarks."
Noor Hossain was shot dead by police near Zero Point in Dhaka, on Nov 10 1987, during demonstrations against the regime of the then military ruler Hussain Muhammed Ershad.
The 26-year-old took to the streets with the slogan 'Down with autocracy, free democracy' inscribed on his chest and back. Noor's death led to a mass uprising that eventually toppled the autocratic regime in 1990.
According to Ranga, a mentally stable person would not have inscribed slogans on his chest.
"He was mentally unstable and someone else did it [inscribed slogans]. It was sabotage; a body was needed and it was ensured," he said.
Asked whether he would formally apologise to the family of Noor Hossain, the Jatiya Party leaders said, "The words 'yaba-addict' and phensedyl-addict' were slip of tongue. I retract those words and I apologise to the family."
