Dhaka, Jun 23 (bdnews24.com) – Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman H M Ershad on Saturday said that his party has gained momentum and emerged as a third political force in the country after the ruling Awami League and opposition BNP.
The former autocratic ruler also claimed that people were now fed up with the two main political parties and wanted to get rid of their repressive tactics.
He was addressing a joint meeting of the party's district and upazila unit presidents and general secretaries at Diploma Engineers' Institute auditorium in the city.
Criticising both Awami League and BNP, he said the two parties had failed to do anything for the masses when in power.
"The people have been held hostage by them ... now they want freedom. So, the masses are in favour of emergence of a third force. And the Jatiya Party is that third alternative."
He further said that his party would go it alone in the next general elections. "We'll start strengthening the organisation after the Eid."
Unlike opposition BNP, the former military ruler said his party had no objection to taking part in the next polls under a partisan government. "We'll take part in the next polls for the sake of democracy, no matter who boycotts it."
Some speakers advised Ershad to disassociate the party from the ruling Grand Alliance. However, a section of JP leaders also cast doubts over the credibility of party chief's often inconsistent and confusing statements in the past.
Hafez Abdur Rashid, General Secretary of the party's Shyamnagar upazila unit of Satkhira district, expressed his resentment with the party chief in his presence and said that a crisis of confidence had surfaced in the party due to his various confusing statements.
Ershad, however, asserted that he stood by his words.
Rashid in his speech said: "Sir, many say that your statements change frequently. That's why the leaders and activists find it difficult to trust your statements."
Terming such remarks as 'false propaganda', Ershad said: "I stand by my words. A section of people is spreading false propaganda against me."
Jatiya Party Secretary General A B M Ruhul Amin Hawlader, Presidium Council Member Rowshan Ershad, Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu and Delwar Hossain Khan were also present at the meeting.
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