Ershad backs polls under emergency

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Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman HM Ershad yesterday said it is imperative to hold the stalled 9th parliamentary election under the state of emergency to ensure fairness in the poll.

The former army chief who was also the longest-ruling military dictator of the country however said some relaxation in the provisions of the emergency rules is desirable.

The JP chief was talking to reporters before and during the break in a presidium meeting of the party in his Banani office in the capital.

Ershad, who had resigned from the post of the chief of JP last year, in a surprise move on April 7 claimed that he still retains the chairmanship of the party.

Yesterday for the second time, since his resignation, Ershad presided over a presidium meeting of the party.

Political analysts say Ershad, who was inactive in politics since 1/11, all of a sudden has become lively again with blessings from ‘influential quarters’.

On June 30 of last year, the former military dictator who was overthrown from the seat of power by a popular upsurge in 1990, disclosed in a news conference that he had left his apex post in the party and had deputised Presidium Member Anisul Islam Mahmud as the acting chairman of the party to run the show until it elects a new chief.

Asked about his comments on the National Women’s Development Policy and the ongoing strife between Islamist forces and the government, Ershad said the disputes will be over once the recommendations of the government formed review committee are implemented.

“If the upcoming election is not held under the emergency power rules, the country might revert back to the pre 1/11 situation,” the JP chairman told reporters.

He also said detained ‘corrupt politicians’ will come out from jails and the election will turn into a showcase of black money and muscle if the emergency is lifted.

Replying to a question, the former dictator who was also the country’s president until overthrown, said, “Jatiya Party believes in democracy and we will contest in the election even if Awami League and BNP don’t.”

The JP chairman said his party is preparing for local government elections and selecting its candidates.

Ershad also said local government elections should be held this year, and the national poll should be held at the beginning of next year.

He said his party already launched an initiative to form electoral alliances with like-minded parties who are ‘nationalists and believes in Islamic values’.

“We already had discussions with Bikalpadhara and a faction of Islami Oikyo Jote about possible electoral alliances,” Ershad said.

Senior presidium members Raushan Ershad and Anisul Islam Mahmud, Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader, and presidium members GM Quader, and Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, were also present at the meeting.

B CHY VISITS ERSHAD
Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) President Badruddoza Chowdhury yesterday called on Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman HM Ershad at the latter’s residence.

The two leaders discussed national issues, including electoral alliance and national consensus government.

The BDB president went to Ershad’s President Park residence in the city’s Baridhara at about 7:45pm and had dinner with the JP chairman.

BDB leader Mahi B Chowdhury said it was a courtesy call.

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