A number of leaders of the Jatiya Party including chief HM Ershad’s wife Rawshan Ershad have announced that they would contest the January 5 polls.
Presidium members Anisul Islam Mahmud, Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, Mujibul Haque Chunnu, Tajul Islam and some other leaders are siding with Rawshan.
The announcement came from Tajul Islam after a meeting that lasted several hours at Rawshan’s Gulshan residence yesterday afternoon. Another presidium member Kazi Firoz Rashid have also attended the meeting.
“Those Jatiya Party candidates, who have not withdrawn their nomination papers, are going to contest the elections,” Tajul told reporters around 4:30pm yesterday.
In a sudden reversal of decisions after having participated in the “all party” interim cabinet led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former military ruler Ershad on December 3, decided to pull out of the polls-time cabinet.
He said he and his party could not run in the polls unless the participation of “all the political parties” was ensured.
In an unexpected move on Thursday, law enforcers “picked up” Ershad from his Baridhara residence and took him to the Combined Military Hospital. They said they had only “escorted” him to the hospital because he was “ill,” while Ershad said he was “detained.”
Jatiya Party insiders told the Dhaka Tribune that the leaders had decided to join the polls for “saving” their party chief. They said the Awami League might revive the corruption cases against Ershad because of his decision to pull out of the polls.
According to the affidavit that Ershad placed at the Election Commission last month, at least 12 corruption and criminal cases against him are awaiting disposal.
In the meantime, Ershad’s younger brother and party’s presidium member GM Quader, Secretary General Ruhul Amin Howlader and special adviser Bobby Hajjaj have been leading the group that opposes joining polls.
Ershad’s special adviser Bobby Hajjaj is the son of businessman Moosa Bin Shamsher, who came into prominence during Ershad’s rule in the 1980s.
In a press conference at his Gulshan office yesterday, Bobby claimed that he had been appointed the acting spokesperson of the party by Ershad.
He told reporters that GM Quader and Ruhul Amin Howlader would now be leading the party in absence of Ershad.
Apparently indicating at the Rawshan-led group, Bobby said no matter what other people might say, Ershad had made it clear that Jatiya Party was not going to the polls under any circumstances.
GM Quader told the Dhaka Tribune that he was worried about his brother’s safety. “I have passed on Mr Ershad’s instructions to party leaders about not contesting the polls; but many of them have defied [his instruction],” Quader told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
“So far I have not got any instruction [from Ershad] about taking any action against them [who have decided to contest polls],” he added.
Quader, the commerce minister in Sheikh Hasina’s cabinet, also said the candidates could vie in the polls, but not with the party symbol plough.
On the other hand, Mujibul Haque Chunnu one of the leaders who decided to join the polls told the Dhaka Tribune: “We are taking part in the polls under Ershad’s leadership. We think the Jatiya Party should take part in the polls for ensuring his safety.
“I do not bother even if they [JP leadership] take any action [against us],” he said.
According to the Election Commission, as of yesterday, at least 149 including Ershad and Quader out of 255 Jatiya Party candidates withdrew their nomination papers.
At least 18 Jatiya Party candidates have been elected unopposed till filing of this report at 9pm yesterday. The commission yesterday said a total of 151 candidates were elected MPs uncontested.
