More than two decades after his military government was ousted by people’s power, Hussein Mohammed Ershad is seeking a reversal of fortunes.
Now chairman of the Jatiya Party (JP), the former military dictator says Bangladesh is fed of the ‘two-party tyranny’ and wants peace and stability under a ruler who is capable of providing it.
Fading hopes of an agreement to conduct a free, fair and inclusive polls between the Awami League and the BNP has encouraged Ershad to consider launching a third front of smaller parties and go into the forthcoming parliament polls with much hope.
Ershad has often been criticised for his inconsistent statements on contesting polls.
He had previously said JP would not go to the national election without the BNP’s participation.
But when the former dictator spoke to bdnews24.com on Wednesday, it was clear he was moving his party for whole-hearted participation in the elections.
Inaugurating the sale of nomination papers for Jatiya Party aspirants, Ershad said the people have pinned their hopes on his party to ‘get rid’ of the two leading parties — the ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP.
He has described the two parties as ‘a curse for Bangladesh’.
The JP chief wants the BNP to take part in the election.
The party formally kicked off its polls preparations with the launching of sale of nomination papers.
The Jatiya Party has the third highest number of lawmakers in the parliament now after the Awami League and the BNP.
Ershad bought a nomination for himself in the afternoon.
Asked about his latest decision to participate in the election without the BNP, he said: “I do politics for my party and not for anyone else.
“I’ve waited for several days but could not wait any longer. I had asked them (the BNP) to sit for talks and raise their demands. I had written to them as well.
“They did not come forward for talks.” He said.
Citing a well-known proverb, the JP chief said: “Time and tide wait for none and I don’t have time.”
He, however, said his party is keen that the BNP takes part in the 10th national election. “I tried my level best [to persuade the BNP],” he said.
During past several days, Ershad had been saying the JP would not go to polls if all the parties, including the BNP, did not participate in it.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia had doubted Ershad’s intentions. BNP’s joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi called Ershad a ‘double-faced’ leader and declined to comment on his invitation.
Five of the eight newly inducted ministers in the ‘all-party’ polls-time cabinet are from the JP.
The BNP and the ruling party are yet to reach an agreement over the polls-time dispensation.
Led by the BNP, the Opposition has been demanding a non-party government’s supervision in the national polls.
Ershad said the JP was an ‘election-oriented’ party.
“I have to maintain my party and keep my supporters active,” he said.
He believed the people were ‘ready’ for the elections.
Party leaders and activists thronged the JP’s Banani headquarters to obtain nomination forms.
Ershad reduced the price of each form to Tk 10,000 from Tk 20,000.
He said his party would announce candidates for all 300 parliamentary seats. He will contest from Dhaka-17, Rangpur-1 and Rangpur-3 constituencies.
The former dictator, who was ousted through a joint movement by the Awami League and the BNP in the early 1990s, claimed the people wanted to see him in power.
“People want peace and to be relieved from the tyranny of the two parties.
“My popularity has surged and the people are again putting their faith on the ‘plough’ (JP’s electoral symbol).
“I want to utilise this chance,” said the former President.
Source: Bd news24
