HM Ershad has asked his followers to pray to God on his ‘85th birthday’ to add six more years to his life as he had spent as many years in jail.
The former military dictator termed the activists of his Jatiya Party his children at a function held at Emanuell’s Convention Centre in Gulshan to celebrate his birthday on Friday.
“Every birthday is joyous. I am happy that my children are celebrating the day,” Ershad said.
Jatiya Party leaders said it was his 85th birthday.
Ershad cut the birthday cake in presence of party’s General Secretary Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, Presidium Member Salma Islam and Dhaka North City unit chief SM Faisal Chishti, among others.
“Jail term has taken six years from my life. Today I’ll implore Allah to kindly add these six years to my life so as to give me a chance to serve people more,” he said.
“May Jatiya Party live after my death and my death anniversaries are observed,” he went on to add.
“You (leaders and activists of his party) also pray for me and Jatiya Party,” he added.
Accused in over 70 cases, Ershad served six years in prison after he had been ousted from power through a popular movement in 1990.
He resumed politics after being freed in 1996. Jatiya Party was an ally of the 2009-13 coalition government.
Its leaders are in the government led by Awami League while at the same time, the party is occupying the opposition slot in Parliament after the Jan 5, 2014 elections.
Ershad is a special envoy to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while his wife Raushon Ershad is the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.
Referring to the Awami League and BNP that led the movement to topple him, Ershad said, “The two parties spoke of democracy. They had said they would re-establish democracy if I handed over power. But they have not kept the promise.”
He claimed since 90s only the current Parliament could play effective role.
“None of the previous parliaments could be effective. But this time being in the opposition we have succeeded in making Parliament and democracy effective,” he said.
“We’ll show our popularity in the next election.”
Ershad continued, “I cannot bear the people suffering anymore. We want peace, smile on every face. Only Jatiya Party can bring smiles back to the faces.”
His political affairs and press secretary Sunil Shuvo Roy were also present at the function.
Raushon Ershad, however, was conspicuous by her absence.
In the screen put up behind the stage, Jatiya Party leaders and activists wrote expressing their wish to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of their leader.
His party’s website, says he was born on Feb 1, 1930.
Asked about the matter, Ershad’s Secretary Roy said, “Today is sir’s real birthday. Feb 1 is taken from the certificate.”
Hailing from Rangpur, Ershad graduated from Dhaka University in 1950 and joined the then Pakistan Army in 1952.
He took over power when he was Chief of Army Staff in 1982 and ruled Bangladesh as the Chief Martial Law Administrator until December 1983.
Later, he became the president by removing Justice Ahsan Uddin Chowdhury. He was ousted on Dec 6, 1990.
Ershad formed Jatiya Party when in power on Jan 1, 1986. He is serving as the chairman of the party since then.
Source: bdnews24
