Jatiya Party chairman Hussein Muhammad Ershad told journalists at his Rangpur residence Pallinibash that the country is

divided between believers and atheists and that it has been heading towards uncertainty. He insisted that Hefazat-e-Islam did not imprecate any violence and they had gathered at Shapla Chottor to praise Allah and talk about the holy prophet. Ershad claimed that it was police who had resisted them every step of the way and persecuted the Hefazat activists although they did not create chaos. The former president rejected the police commissioner's claim that only 11 people were killed on the morning of May 6 and said that a large number of people were killed during the police operation

Nobel-winning economist Dr Muhammad Yunus has said, "We do not want to live like slaves. We want to live like human beings. We

would like to be known as humans before the rest of the world." Talking about the garments workers he added, "They should be paid such wages that they can live like humans, not as slaves. We have got the opportunity to do it. We can surely do it." Yunus was speaking at a national dialogue on the building collapse in Savar where he further said that Bangladesh is the second largest garments producing country in the world and that about four million garments workers are building the foundation of a modern Bangladesh.

Home minister Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir has compared the behavior of Hefazat-e-Islam to that of Yazid during

his speech at the opening of the new building for the Phoolpur police station in Mymensingh. Alamgir then claimed that the country is now in a better condition that it was during the rule of Shayesta Khan because all the roads, electricity lines and factories that have been built in the country have either happened during the reign of Bangabandhu or her daughter Sheikh Hasina.

Finance minister AMA Muhith has called Hefazat-e- Islam, which means safeguarding Islam, as Borbad-e- Islam,

meaning destruction of Islam. The minister said that Hefazat has no contribution to the overall development of the country. He also said that the group even has not made any contribution to the development of the Muslim society in the country. He made his comments at a press conference held at his ministry to brief journalists on attending the annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank.

Gonoforum president Dr Kamal Hossain has suggested the national monument in Savar as a possible venue for the

dialogue between the leaders of the two largest political parties in the country. He said that the peaceful and acceptable elections cannot be held under the prevailing circumstances. An acceptable election has to be acceptable to all parties, he told journalists at a meeting in his residence, for which the two leaders have to talk between them.

Former mayor of Chittagong and president of Chittagong City Awami League Mohiuddin Ahmed has

warned that those who will burn and vandalize cars, trains and shops during the hartals will have their cars and homes burned and vandalized in return. He said, "We have got the list of people who are doing these things and they should be warned. The Spirit of 1971 will burn them to ashes. Chowdhury further stated those madrassahs which brainwashed their students and took them to Dhaka for subversive activities will not be spared.

Communication minister Obaidul Qader spoke metaphorically when he said, "The ice of the crisis has to be

melted with the heat of the dialogue. This is the solution. Violent and destructive behavior is not going to achieve anything." He further said that there is no alternative to elections and if there are obstacles to holding the elections, then those obstacles can be overcome through dialogue. He urged everyone to sit for the dialogue opening their minds from all sides. Mentioning the non-violence ideal of Mahatma Gandhi, the minister said that dialogue is the other name for non-violence.

Agriculture minister Matiya Chowdhury has referred to Motiur Rahman, the editor of Prothom Alo, as the 'tauba editor' without

mentioning his name. She bitterly criticized the daily over a recent survey conducted by it and said that Prothom Alo has not conducted any such surveys in the past and it is not a neutral daily because it has a political direction of its own. The minister said the 'tauba editor' shoots arrows at others and, at the same time, says sorry for it. She made her remarks at the BBC Songlap held at the BIAM Auditorium in Dhaka.

According to BNP standing committee member barrister Moudud Ahmed, although the government is talking

about dialogue, it is not cordial about it. He claimed that the government is only offering that proposal so that it can show it to the foreigners. It is also doing it to confuse the people, but deep down inside they have got autocratic ambitions. He demanded that before talking about dialogue, the government should first release all the detained opposition leaders, withdraw all cases against them and stop persecuting them.

State minister for public works and housing Abdul Mannan Khan believes that since Awami League has liberated the

country, this party should also run it. He added that everybody has the right to hold meetings and rallies in a democratic country, but that does not mean they should torch vehicles and burn people alive. Khan also claimed that BNP has gone out of its wits at the enviable success of Awami League over the last four years.

Dr Hasan Mahumd, minister for environment and forests, claimed that the 48-hour ultimatum given by BNP was a

prescription from ISI. He also complained that Khaleda Zia receives a monthly allowance from ISI, which has been reflected in a recent report. The minister was talking at an anti-hartal rally in front of the National Press Club. He said that Khalead Zia has been behaving erratically since her return from Singapore where she had held meetings with the ISI people.

Assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islam, Qamruzzaman, has been sentenced to death by the War

Crimes Tribunal on two charges of crimes against humanity. In his reaction to the verdict, Qamruzzamn told the tribunal from the dock, "This is a wrong judgment. History does not forgive anyone. Everyone will have to stand in the dock one day." After that Qamruzzaman was speedily taken out of the court by police.