Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad has said the Army should be given magistracy power during the upcoming elections.
Claiming that free and fair polls could not be possible without the help of the armed forces, he said: “The Army should be provided with magistracy power during the polls to keep the environment suitable.”
He made the statement while talking to journalists at his Gulshan office around 12:30pm.
Urging the government to create a suitable environment in the country during elections, he also said: “The government should give the armed force magistracy power and create suitable environment for holding the upcoming election.”
Meanwhile, he complained that although his party was a part of the newly formed cabinet, the government did not consult with his party before the announcement of the polls schedule.
On Monday, the Election Commission announced the schedule of the 10th general election of Bangladesh, which will be held on January 5.
Earlier, on November 21, the government constituted the polls-time cabinet consisting of five Jatiya Party members.
The JP chief had earlier declared that his party will not join the polls without BNP’s participation.
Later on November 24, he said Jatiya Party would participate in the upcoming polls to assess its popularity.