SQ Chy 's remarks unfortunate: Ershad

In his reaction after the defeat in the election to the post of OIC secretary general SQ Chowdhury dubbed the voting results as an outcome of "machinations of pro-Israeli bloc" within the forum.

Ershad, who returned to Dhaka yesterday morning from Saudi Arabia after heart treatment, told newsmen that Egypt also has relations with Israel, but that does not mean that they belong to Israeli lobby.

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"He did not do the right thing by saying so," he said, adding that he (SQ Chowdhury) also should not put the blame on others (opposition) for his failure to secure the top job of the 57-country Organisation of the Islamic Conference.

The ex-military ruler also interpreted his defeat as a "serious failure of the foreign policy of Bangladesh".

When the prime minister had sought support of Malaysia for the Bangladesh candidate it was very embarrassing for Malaysia so it put up its own candidate, he added.

Referring to Awami League's opposition to SQ Chowdhury as candidate for the post, he said, "Although the AL supremo opposed SQ Chowdhury's candidature, but once he was nominated he became the candidate of Bangladesh. AL should have supported the candidate," he said. "It was the defeat of Bangladesh, after all."

At the same time, Ershad brushed aside the notion that SQ Chowdhury was defeated following negative campaign of AL.

Asked whom he will lend support in the forthcoming by-election in Dhaka-10 constituency, he said they were yet to take a decision.

To a question the JP chief said his health is "fine and there is no complaint".

Bidisha Ershad, JP Secretary General Ruhul Amin Howlader and other senior JP leaders went to airport to receive him.