A group of Jatiya Party leaders, loyal to Rawshan Ershad, yesterday unveiled their election manifesto for the 10th parliamentary election scheduled on January 5.
JaPa Presidium Member Anisul Islam Mahmud announced the eight-point election manifesto just two days before the polls at a conference in Hotel Sonargaon of the capital.
In the manifesto, the party demands that “full faith in Almighty Allah” be restored to the country’s constitution.
The party leader said JaPa was contesting the polls in 64 constituencies with symbol “Plough” to protect the constitution.
The main objective of the party was to keep the constitution functional, he added.
While formally announcing the eight-point election manifesto, Anisul claimed it was the decision of Ershad and his wife Rawshan to join the polls.
The presidium member said other leaders of the party failed to attend the programme because of their hectic schedules.
No other frontline leaders except Kazi Firoz Rashid was present during the manifesto-unveiling programme.
Asked about withdrawal of nomination papers, he said those who did not withdraw their nomination papers were in the polls.
In reply to a query, Anisul claimed that JaPa Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader and Presidium Member GM Quader would also participate in the election.
He added that the duo were busy with election campaign and so they failed to attend the programme.
Earlier, both Ruhul Amin Howlader and GM Quader stated that they would stick to the party chief’s decision not to go to polls.
Anisul Islam Mahmud also described himself as a minister because he did not send his resignation letter to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Seven JaPa leaders, four ministers, two state ministers and an adviser to the prime minister took oath on November 18 as members in the interim cabinet.
Ershad had earlier declared that he would not take part in the upcoming elections slated for January 5.
Head of JaPa Research and Strategy Wing Bobby Hajjaj in a statement on Wednesday said he held a video conferencing with the party leaders and assured them that Ershad was not in the polls.