Bangladesh News

Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman HM Ershad changed his mind not to join the BNP-led four-party alliance immediately as he has been facing tremendous opposition from a number of senior party leaders including even the pro-BNP ones.

Sources said most JP leaders who were lawmakers in the eighth parliament along with a number of pro-BNP others opposed the decision to join the four-party coalition as they think it is likely to face disaster in the upcoming elections.

Meanwhile, the BNP high command is continuing its efforts to bring Ershad in their coalition as soon as possible. Sources said the BNP is trying to mount pressure on Ershad in this regard.

Hearing about Ershad’s latest stance, a representative of Tarique Rahman called Ershad over telephone on Friday and discussed the matter of the former military ruler’s joining the four-party alliance.

JP sources said a group of former lawmakers led by Presidium Member and Ershad’s younger brother GM Quader have taken position against the party chairman. They are planning to leave the party to float one of their own if Ershad unilaterally decides to join the BNP alliance.

A JP source said the BNP and JP leadership could not reach a consensus on their dealings.

The BNP leadership had assured Ershad of benefits like 45 seats and financial help for the JP candidates to contest the election.

But getting no final decision of the BNP high command in this regard, Ershad decided that he would finalise his decision about joining the four-party alliance after November 12, the deadline of Awami League’s ultimatum to the caretaker government chief for realising its 11-point demand.

If the caretaker chief fails to realise Awami League’s demands, it might boycott the election, in which case the JP will contest the election individually.

After Friday’s meeting of the party presidium, however, Ershad told reporters that no matter Awami League and its allies take part in the election or not, the JP would join the four-party alliance.

But just a day after, the JP central leaders now think it will be unwise to join the four-party alliance before the 14-party’s extended November 12 deadline.