The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Former President HM Ershad yesterday directly blamed journalists for 'triggering' the current conflict between him and his ex-wife Bidisha over the issue of possession of their six-year-old child Eric.

Ershad, who lodged a FIR against Bidisha recently blaming her of holding their boy hostage said, the issues was created by the media. ''I shall never talk with you about my personal life,'' he replied reacting sharply when a group of journalists entered his flat for his comment following a press conference of Bidisha, who filed another FIR against Jatiya Party Chairman Ershad recently in retaliation .

''My ex-husband HM Ershad has kept me and my son Eric confined at my Baridhara apartment by deploying musclemen. Eric needs treatment abroad but Ershad declines to handover his passport,'' meanwhile Bidisha claimed at a press conference at the President Park apartment yesterday.Bidisha said Ershad is claiming that Eric should stay with him, but under an agreement, Eric is to stay with either of them every alternative week.

Ershad, who lives on the 5th floor of the same President Park building, alleged that Bidisha has held Eric hostage.

Bidisha, divorced by Ershad in June 2004, also alleged that Ershad is issuing threats through his hired musclemen for the last few days and obstructed them to come out of her apartment.

"Even I cannot take my son to school and do my shopping as Ershad keeps musclemen downstairs," she said, adding that despite complaints with Gulshan police, no action was taken by the concerned authorities.

Bidisha told reporters that she talked to her lawyers and would go to court soon to seek redress.