Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad has expressed doubts about the Jan 5 national election being free and fair, alleging an absence of a level playing field.
“The country has now split into two – the Awami League and the BNP. Where is the level playing field? There is no environment of a free and fair election,” he said on Tuesday.
Ershad flayed the Opposition alliance for giving the call for a countrywide blockade after the Election Commission announced the poll schedule.
The former military dictator blamed political conflict and violence for vitiating the poll environment.
“What kind of democracy are we practicing now? Is this a democracy? Did we want this Bangladesh?” he said.
ফাইল ছবি
Ershad apprehends an intensification of conflict if the election is held under the present circumstances.
The Jatiya Party chief said he had repeatedly urged the Opposition to take part in the election but his plea had gone unheeded.
“I have no idea how to get over this situation,” he said.
Ershad alleged the Election Commission had not given ample time to submit nominations.
“Perhaps the Election Commission does not believe there are other parties besides the two major ones. It has declared the schedule by ignoring us. It should not have done that.”
He urged the commission to extend the nomination deadline without changing the election date.
The deadline for nomination submission is Dec 2.
Source: Bd news24
“Did we want this Bangladesh?” Of course not. HM Ershad did not want ANY Bangladesh. He served his masters – Pakistanis – till his masters said, “Good job and that will be enough, thank you”. They promoted him to the rank of Colonel (which, by the way, means no further promotions in the Army), repatriated him to Bangladesh as their agent and helped him to the the rank of Lieutenent General, the Army Chief and the President (military dictator) who ruled for long 9 years more than any other “political party” of Bangladesh. And as a faithful servant he continues to serve his masters well with the uncanny ability to switch masters easily as the situation demands. Good luck Bangladeshis………