Jatiya Party Chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad has asked the political establishment to revert to the presidential form of government by amending the constitution.
The former president said he was challenging Awami League and BNP chiefs Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia respectively to make this change.
The former General claimed that, under a presidential system, the ruling Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina and opposition BNP chief would not succeed in defeating him in the national election even if they were to form an alliance.
Addressing a function in capital Dhaka on Saturday, Ershad said efforts to start a dialogue to resolve the present political deadlock have been out on the backburner, while the Awami League and BNP wrangled over whether the upcoming parliamentary poll should be held under the present government or a non-party caretaker administration.
“Even a few days back, there was a widespread demand for a dialogue from all quarters. But that demand has now been pushed back.”
Ershad felt the country’s politics was passing through a critical time.
“Now it’s my turn to throw a challenge. Bring constitutional amendment; reinstate the provision of the presidential system. Then you both contest against me in the election by forming alliance. Accept my challenge,” he said.
Jatiya party is a key ally of the ruling Awami League-led government.
Parliamentary democracy was introduced in the country in 1972 after Independence, but the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution replaced it with a presidential form of government led by an all-powerful president in January 1975.
The presidential form was in place till 1991.
The parliamentary form of government was restored through a referendum after the fall of Ershad’s autocratic regime through a mass uprising in 1991.
Defending his demand for restoration of the presidential system, Ershad said on Saturday that he had undertaken massive development programmes during the nine years that he was in power.
Ershad claimed he could have done a lot more had the Awami League and the BNP not enforced shutdown for 374 days during his time.
“Only two people were killed (in police firing) during my tenure, but now hundreds of people are being killed often. What have you contributed to the country except spilling blood?” he asked, directing his rhetoric at Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia.
“We didn’t want such a democracy, we wanted peace. Our countrymen say that the both parties are busy with their individual gains, but Ershad was always good. They want to return to Ershad’s regime,” he added.
He claimed that currently there was a massive groundswell of public support in his favour, almost similar to what Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had during the 1970 general elections.
Ershad was addressing an inter-active meet of his party’s grass-roots leaders from Noakhali at the party’s Banani headquarters in Dhaka.
Jatiya Party Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader and Presidium Member Ziauddin Bablu were also present at the meeting.
Source: bdnews24
So, all this guy wants is to go to power and for that he wants the system changed. How nice. But before that we need to take an account of his 9 yrs of corrupt and illegal rule. Pity how the Bangladeshis are stuck with these power hungry politicians – these shameless creatures.