Jatiya Party (JP) Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu on Tuesday said they have come forward to join the next national election scheduled for January 7, but not to quit it.
“I can tell you one thing clearly that the Jatiya Party is here to contest in the polls. The Jatiya Party did not come here to quit,” he told reporters.
Chunnu said he had no scope to make any comment on what Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, noting that it is up to her whether she believes them or not.
He said there is no reason to quit the election if the Election Commission and the government ensure an environment that creates confidence among the voters.
His comments came amid reports in a section of the media that the prime minister was not sure whether JP, the main opposition in parliament, would keep its word and stay in the electoral race.
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Meanwhile, opposition leader and Jatiya Party Chief Patron Raushan Ershad met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at PM’s residence Ganobhavan.
Raushan’s son Rahgir Al Mahi (Saad) Ershad and her spokesperson Kazi Mamunur Rashid accompanied her.
"During the meeting, a discussion on the next general election was held between the two leaders," PM's Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhawat Moon said while briefing reporters after the meeting.
The PM reiterated her commitment that the 12th parliamentary election will be free and fair and the country’s people will spontaneously take part in the election by exercising their voting rights, he said.
Regarding the meeting, Chunnu said Raushan Ershad is still the opposition leader and she can meet the leader of the House anytime. “She can go to Gonobhaban. It’s a very common in nature,”
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Chunnu said the image of the JP could be enhanced and supporters of the JP would be happy if she could join the polls. “We waited till 10:30pm the day before the final day of nomination paper collection.”
Jatiya Party is still in bargaining with the ruling Awami League over seat sharing for next month’s national polls.
Talking to reporters after the meeting with PM Hasina, JP leader Raushan said they discussed the current election issues.
Asked whether the PM said anything about JP’s joining excluding her she said, “No time now, what to say?”
Raushan said JP chairman GM Quader did not behave well with them and he is contesting in her son’s constituency. “He even did not remember him (Saad).”
She said they (JP Chairman) dropped us intentionally. “Why should I have support for them?”