Ershad sets new conditions to go to polls

Chairman Hussein Muhammad Ershad has said Jatiya Party will go to general elections if the schedule is extended by 10 days and participation of all political parties ensured.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 6 Dec 2013, 02:32 PM
Updated : 7 Dec 2013, 06:06 AM

He revealed the latest twist in his tale to reporters around 8pm on Friday at his President Park residence in Dhaka’s Baridhara.

“My ministers met the Prime Minister yesterday (Thursday). They have requested the Prime Minister to extend the polls schedule by 10 more days.”

“I will take part in the election if the schedule is extended and it is ensured that all parties will join polls,” Ershad said as his tiny dramas continued to mirror his struggle with the balance shifting daily.

Jatiya Party candidates had filed nominations on Dec 2 to contest in the Jan 5 national election. Ershad also submitted nomination papers to run for Dhaka-17, Lalmonirhat-1 and Rangpur-3 constituencies.

However, the former military dictator the following day announced his decision to not contest the polls as the opposition BNP and its allies boycotted the polls.

He also claimed there was no ‘suitable environment’ for the parliamentary polls to take place.

Ershad on Wednesday had also told his party ministers in the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led ‘all-party’ interim government to resign. Five of them tendered their resignation letters to him on Thursday.

They are Health and Family Welfare Minister Raushan Ershad, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, State Minister for Youth and Sports Mojibul Haque Chunnu, Commerce Minister Ghulam Muhammed Quader and State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Salma Islam.

File Photo

But Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud and Prime Minister's Advisor Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu are yet to submit their resignation letters, Ershad said.

Responding to a question, he said, “I haven’t got their resignation letters in hand, but hope to get them anytime.”

He also dismissed speculations about a rift, saying “There is no internal feud in my party.”

However, Jatiya Party Presidium members Mahmud and Bablu had met Hasina at Ganabhaban on Tuesday night, hours after Ershad had retreated from the decision to contest election.

Party activists had also shouted slogans against Mahmud when he had gone to meet Ershad at his residence on Thursday night.

Later on the same night, Ershad said that he would forward the letters to President Md Abdul Hamid on Saturday.