No rule of law in country

Ershad tells party council

A democratic country like Bangladesh cannot be run in the present way and changes must by brought about in the electoral system to stave off the current crisis, Jatiya Party (JP) chairman HM Ershad said yesterday. He also alleged that there was no rule of law in the country. “The electoral system has collapsed because of the extreme failure of the Election Commission. At least 84 people have died in these union parishad (UP) elections. We earlier presented a proposal to the government to change the party-based electoral system for the sake of holding local government elections in a democratic manner. It is the now the people’s demand to change the electoral system,” he said, while addressing the eighth national council of the JP, held at the capital’s Institution of Engineers.
Earlier, HM Ershad inaugurated the colourful council amidst festivities among the leaders, councillors and activists.
The councillors elected unopposed HM Ershad and Ruhul Amin Hawlader the chairman and secretary general respectively of JP through ‘yes’ votes. JP presidium member, advocate Sheikh Sirajul Islam, proposed their names as chairman and secretary general respectively, and the councillors supported these unanimously, saying ‘yes.’
Besides, the councillors also elected Raushan Ershad, who is Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, and GM Quader as senior co-chairperson and co-chairman respectively.
Before electing the chairman, the councillors passed the party constitution, with some changes in Section 39. The JP chairman has lost his absolute power in the party as a result of the changes in Section 39 of the party constitution.
The chairman would now require the presidium’s approval before making any changes in leadership or taking any decision of the party, according to Section 39.
“The rule of law should be restored in the country,” HM Ershad said after his re-election as party chairman.
Urging leaders and activists who have left the party at different times to return, Ershad said, “The door is open for you and we will accept you cordially. I want to see the party united in the last moments of my life.”
Criticising the government, the former
president said, “There is no rule of law in the country. I had never tried to grab power by declaring martial law. I announced general elections in 1984—but major political parties did not participate in it. So, we were compelled to assume power by creating JP.”   
Party-based local government elections should be cancelled, the former dictator said, adding that the electoral system of local government elections should be changed in a bid to hold the polls in a free, fair and credible manner.
Ershad, who is also special envoy to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said, “The independence of the judiciary should be ensured and militancy destroyed in the country.”
“I am with you as long as I am alive. I will try to go to power again with you,” the JP chairman said.
The JP will take part in all future polls, including the parliamentary elections, under the leadership of the committee that would be formed through this council.
The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, who is also the JP’s senior co-chairperson, Raushan Ershad, said: “We want to see the JP a strong and united party. We are urging the old leaders, those who left the party, to join us again in a bid to strengthen the JP.” She added that the old leaders who left the party earlier would be properly honoured if they come back.
“We have reached the advanced stage of our lives. So, we want to get the taste of power again. That is why we need unity in the party,” Raushan, who is HM Ershad’s wife, said.
There was massive development, including construction of roads, in the country during the tenure of the JP government, she claimed.
The country’s problem of unemployment is spreading like an epidemic, JP co-chairman and former minister GM Quader said, while speaking at the party’s eighth national council.
“Politics of self-interest are now prevailing in the country. As a result, there is no stable and good environment in politics. The expected investments are absent here due to political unrest, and the unemployment problem is now spreading in epidemic form,” he said.
Underscoring the need for unity among those in the JP, Quader said: “All the political parties in the country have failed to do politics for the welfare of the people. So, the people of the country now expect that Jatiya Party will do something for them. We need to be united under the present leadership of the JP.”
Among others, water resources minister Anisul Islam Mahmud, former secretary general Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, Opposition chief whip in parliament Tajul Islam Chowdhury, state minister for local government and rural development (LGRD) Mashiur Rahman Ranga, state minister for labour Mujibul Haque Chunnu, presidium members Prof. Delwar Hossain, Kazi Firoz Rashid, Fakhrul Islam, MA Qasem, Prof. Masuda M Rashid Chowdhury, Syed Abu Hossain Babla, Salma Islam, Mir Abdus Sabur, Sunil Shuvo Roy and Mohila Party general secretary Anonya Hossain Mousumi also attended the council.
The Jatiya Party was formed 30 years ago, on January 1, 1986.

 

No rule of law in country

Ershad tells party council

A democratic country like Bangladesh cannot be run in the present way and changes must by brought about in the electoral system to stave off the current crisis, Jatiya Party (JP) chairman HM Ershad said yesterday. He also alleged that there was no rule of law in the country. The electoral system has collapsed because of the extreme failure of the Election Commission. At least 84 people have died in these union parishad (UP) elections. We earlier presented a proposal to the government to change the party-based electoral system for the sake of holding local government elections in a democratic manner. It is the now the peoples demand to change the electoral system, he said, while addressing the eighth national council of the JP, held at the capitals Institution of Engineers. Earlier, HM Ershad inaugurated the colourful council amidst festivities among the leaders, councillors and activists. The councillors elected unopposed HM Ershad and Ruhul Amin Hawlader the chairman and secretary general respectively of JP through yes votes. JP presidium member, advocate Sheikh Sirajul Islam, proposed their names as chairman and secretary general respectively, and the councillors supported these unanimously, saying yes. Besides, the councillors also elected Raushan Ershad, who is Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, and GM Quader as senior co-chairperson and co-chairman respectively. Before electing the chairman, the councillors passed the party constitution, with some changes in Section 39. The JP chairman has lost his absolute power in the party as a result of the changes in Section 39 of the party constitution. The chairman would now require the presidiums approval before making any changes in leadership or taking any decision of the party, according to Section 39. The rule of law should be restored in the country, HM Ershad said after his re-election as party chairman. Urging leaders and activists who have left the party at different times to return, Ershad said, The door is open for you and we will accept you cordially. I want to see the party united in the last moments of my life. Criticising the government, the former president said, There is no rule of law in the country. I had never tried to grab power by declaring martial law. I announced general elections in 1984but major political parties did not participate in it. So, we were compelled to assume power by creating JP. Party-based local government elections should be cancelled, the former dictator said, adding that the electoral system of local government elections should be changed in a bid to hold the polls in a free, fair and credible manner. Ershad, who is also special envoy to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said, The independence of the judiciary should be ensured and militancy destroyed in the country. I am with you as long as I am alive. I will try to go to power again with you, the JP chairman said. The JP will take part in all future polls, including the parliamentary elections, under the leadership of the committee that would be formed through this council. The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, who is also the JPs senior co-chairperson, Raushan Ershad, said: We want to see the JP a strong and united party. We are urging the old leaders, those who left the party, to join us again in a bid to strengthen the JP. She added that the old leaders who left the party earlier would be properly honoured if they come back. We have reached the advanced stage of our lives. So, we want to get the taste of power again. That is why we need unity in the party, Raushan, who is HM Ershads wife, said. There was massive development, including construction of roads, in the country during the tenure of the JP government, she claimed. The countrys problem of unemployment is spreading like an epidemic, JP co-chairman and former minister GM Quader said, while speaking at the partys eighth national council. Politics of self-interest are now prevailing in the country. As a result, there is no stable and good environment in politics. The expected investments are absent here due to political unrest, and the unemployment problem is now spreading in epidemic form, he said. Underscoring the need for unity among those in the JP, Quader said: All the political parties in the country have failed to do politics for the welfare of the people. So, the people of the country now expect that Jatiya Party will do something for them. We need to be united under the present leadership of the JP. Among others, water resources minister Anisul Islam Mahmud, former secretary general Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, Opposition chief whip in parliament Tajul Islam Chowdhury, state minister for local government and rural development (LGRD) Mashiur Rahman Ranga, state minister for labour Mujibul Haque Chunnu, presidium members Prof. Delwar Hossain, Kazi Firoz Rashid, Fakhrul Islam, MA Qasem, Prof. Masuda M Rashid Chowdhury, Syed Abu Hossain Babla, Salma Islam, Mir Abdus Sabur, Sunil Shuvo Roy and Mohila Party general secretary Anonya Hossain Mousumi also attended the council. The Jatiya Party was formed 30 years ago, on January 1, 1986.