“We want an election with the participation of all parties. We also want the election to be held in a fair and acceptable manner without rigging and stanching of votes,” he said.
Ershad, also a former President, came up with the remarks while speaking at a public rally at Nabinagar Government High School field arranged by his party’s local unit.
He said Jatiya Party will join the polls as it is an election-oriented party. “It’s not possible to bring a change in power without election. So, we want to change people’s lot by wing the polls.”
The Jatiya Party chairman also hoped his party will return to power if the next general election is held in a credible manner.
He said Jatiya Party, if voted to power, will stop killing, terrorism, enforced disappearance and plundering of banks by establishing good governance.
Mentioning that people want to see a new party in power, Ershad urged his party colleagues to make it stronger further to go to power.
“I’m now the oldest politician of the country. I’m also the worst sufferer of repression, harassment and deprivation. I was not in peace for a day after quitting power. I’m still not in peace, but I’ve come out on the path to change people’s lot and ensure their freedom,” the former military ruler said.
He criticised the government for extrajudicial killing. “Dead bodies are now found beside roads in the country. Extrajudicial killing cannot be accepted in any way. The country can’t be run this way.”
Ershad said his party will remove extrajudicial killing, enforced disappearance, extortion and fictitious cases if it returns to power. “People want to see Jatiya Party in power as they want to live in peace.”
He introduced his party leader Kazi Mamunur Rashid as Jatiya Party candidate fort Brahmanbaria-5 constituency in the next polls, and urged people to vote for him. “Nabinagar was a seat of Jatiya Party. I want to get back it in the next election.”