Ershad has to say ‘many things’ to energise party: Raushon

HM Ershad, Chairman of the Jatiya Party, the main opposition in Parliament, and his wife Raushon Ershad, the Leader of the Opposition, clearly hold divergent views on the role of the Election Commission (EC) in the handling of the upcoming municipal polls.

While Ershad seems to have no “confidence” in the EC, Raushon has little doubt about a “fair election” being held on Wednesday at 234 municipalities across Bangladesh.
 
She said Ershad’s expression of doubts regarding the EC’s role was aimed at ‘encouraging’ party leaders and activists.
 
Addressing a press conference at the Parliament media centre on Tuesday, she said, “The Election Commission has made preparations. I hope they will be able hold a fair election.”
 
Ershad, who is also Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Special Envoy, had criticised the EC at a meeting of the Jatiya Party’s south Dhaka unit on Dec 22.
 
The Jatiya Party chief had said, “The EC is spineless. Whatever doubt there was has been reinforced by an election commissioner seeking the prime minister’s cooperation in preventing Awami League ministers and MPs from campaigning in the municipal election.
 
“He has forgotten that his place is above that of the prime minister. He has failed to fulfil his statutory duty.”
 
When her attention was drawn to Ershad’s divergent views, Raushon said, “As the party chairman he has to say many things to enthuse leaders and activists. He said all that to energise the party. He has not questioned the EC.”
 
So, which one of the two was the party’s view? Raushon, a Jatiya Party Presidium Member, explained: “His (Ershad’s) comment was in the context of an independent EC seeking the prime minister’s cooperation. The EC is independent. So why should it seek government help?”
 
All that was expected of the EC was to hold a free and fair election so that people could come and vote and the aspirants get elected, she said.
 
The Jatiya Party is contesting with its symbol, ‘plough’, in 78 municipalities, in the first ever local government election being held along party lines.
 
She said her party and the Awami League had not clashed during the campaign. Whatever clashes that had taken place were due to the inner party rivalries in the Awami League and the BNP.
 
On Ershad’s allegation that Jatiya Party workers were being intimidated, Raushon said, “Those issuing threats belong to the government...There are some stray incidents in every election.”
 
She said her party had not been able to field candidates in all places and admitted it had to withdraw some.
 
She attributed the move to the party’s inadequate resources to fund campaigns in all the places where it had put up candidates.
 
Will the party pull out of the polls process midway in the event of electoral irregularities?
 
Raushon said: “Elections are fought in order to win. We will not move away from the polls. Elections cannot be called a farce. It is a democratic process.”