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Ershad seeks blessings of Shafi

He will ’try to accept' Hefajat’s 13 demands

Rashidul Hasan and Prabir Barua Chowdhury
Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad yesterday met Shah Ahmed Shafi, chief of Islamist group Hefajat-e Islam, and sought his "blessings and support" for success in the next general election.
During the meeting, which took place at Hefajat's headquarters in Hathazari of Chittagong, Shafi demanded that the JP must implement the Qawmi madrasa-based Islamist group's 13-point demand if it comes to power in the next election.
The demands include scrapping of women development and education
EROM PAGE 1 policies.
Ershad assured the Hefajat chief that his party would reinstate the words "full faith in Almighty Allah" in the country's constitution, JP leader Anisul Islam Mahmud, who accompanied the party chairman, told The Daily Star.
Talking to reporters later, Ershad said he would participate in the election after forming a "new alliance."
"I have come here not to discuss political matters, but to seek his blessings so that I could succeed in the next polls," he added.
Hefajat Secretary General Junaid Babunagari told reporters, "Ershad assured us that he would try to meet the 13-point demand if he could go to power."
He also said Hefajat would not participate in the election under its banner nor would it form any alliance with any political party.
"If any government enacts any law against the spirit of Quran-Sunnah, Hefajat-e Islam along with the people would compel it to repeal that law," he added.
Queried, Anisul, also a lawmaker from Hathazari constituency, said Ershad did not give any assurance of implementing Hefajat's 13-point demand.
At a rally in the capital's Motijheel area on April 6, Hefajat announced the 13 demands including ban on free mixing of men and women, candlelit vigil and intrusion of exotic culture.
The demands have drawn flak from different sections of the society, as they are deemed contradictory to the spirit of Liberation War.
Women's rights activists have denounced those, saying Bangladesh would be pushed backwards if the demands were met.