The recent city poll results show that the government’s popularity has come down to zero, said Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman HM Ershad, hours before he met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Ershad made the remark at the Banani party office in the capital Thursday in a meeting with business leaders and social workers from Gaihandha and Gobindaganj.
He said: “Since the government has neglected the Jatiya Party, they [the government] faced such consequences.”
Explaining the reasons behind the government’s declining popularity, the JP Chief said: “Unabated tender manipulation by Chhatra League and Juba League, the share market collapse, harassment of Dr Muhammad Yunus, disrespecting Islam and Prophet (S) at Shahbagh, the attack on Hefazat activists have all contributed to the situation.”
Ershad’s Jatiya Party is a key ally of the Awami League in the 14-party grand alliance.
Asked whether JP would stay in the alliance or not, the former military ruler said: “The decision will be taken in due time. We will not do anything on impulse. People are now looking forward to the Jatiya Party and fulfilling their wishes is our core aim.”
Later in the evening, Ershad held a closed-door meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the parliament building.
Confirming the issue, JP Presidium Member Anisul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune: “They had a 40-minute meeting at the parliament building.”
He, however, did not give away any more detail about the meeting.
In recent times, tensions have surfaced in the relationship between the Awami League and JP, the two main allies of the ruling 14-party grand alliance.
Ershad has repeatedly talked about leaving the grand alliance and taking part in the next elections individually accusing the Awami League of neglecting JP.
Earlier this month, when Ershad and opposition Chief Khaleda Zia were in Singapore, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had alleged that they were conspiring against the government there.
After Ershad’s return, senior Awami League leaders Obaidul Quader and Jahangir Kabir Nanok met him in Dhaka.
Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Pankaj Sharan and Anwar Hossain Manju, chief of another faction of JP, also paid visits to Ershad.
The last time Ershad had a meeting with the prime minister was on March 3, 2012, at Gana Bhaban in Dhaka.