Did we ask for this democracy? Asks Ershad

Former military ruler HM Ershad has questioned Bangladesh’s achievement under the current democratic system.

While exchanging views with latest party affiliate Jatiya Tanti Party on Thursday, he said a democracy that failed to guarantee safety of the people and their property was not a real democracy.

"Rather, it's a one-party democracy," he said.

The former president, claiming that he had "willingly" stepped down for the "sake of democracy”, said "a democracy of vengeance” was prevailing in the country.

He said the ruling parties wanted to cling to power, as their leaders might to jail or face prosecution once out of power.

"I was implicated in 43 cases after I willingly stepped down for the sake of democracy," Ershad recalled, adding: "But the people's fate did not change in the past 25 years. Did we seek this democracy?"

A mass movement had forced the former dictator to demit office on Dec 5, 1990.

He took a dig at the BNP for agitation of its student front, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), over its new committee.

Several improvised bombs exploded in front of BNP chief Khaleda Zia's office on Wednesday, a day after the new JCD committee was announced.

Ershad believed a “leadership tussle" was behind the explosions. He had earlier said the BNP was becoming "leaderless".

He claimed there was no conflict in his party because he was at the helm.

"I've formed so many Jatiya Party committees but there was no such incident," the Jatiya Party chief said.

Ershad criticised the BNP's call for anti-government agitation.

"We only hear about demonstrations. Like in civil lawsuits, dates of starting their agitation keep on changing. [They talk of starting] agitation after three months, after the Eid. But when will it be finally start?" he wondered.

He said the Tanti Party activists had made the right decision at the right time by joining his party.

"We are the only nationalist party in Bangladesh. We believe in Bangalee nationalism, Liberation War and Islamic values.

"You all know about Latif Siddique -- we were the first to protest [against his anti-Hajj remarks]. A certain party had said they would decide after monitoring the government's steps, but we didn't do that," Ershad said.