Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ICT Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy has said military dictators Ziaur Rahman and HM Ershad formed the political parties to legitimize the state power they seized illegally, condemning their parties for lack of involvement with democracy. "Both Ziaur Rahman and Ershad formed BNP and Jatiya Party respectively to legitimize the power they seized illegally. These parties have no involvement with the democratic system of the country, they rather are regularly cheating on the ordinary people in the name of politics," he said in a Facebook post on Tuesday. Joy lashed out at the two military dictators for having no 'pro-people or pro-state political philosophy'. He said, "The leaders of the BNP, who claimed themselves as the opposition, do not have any pro-people or pro-state political philosophy. Rather, their party constitution encourages corruption as there is no example in world history to amend the party constitution to induct the corrupt persons into it." Joy also heavily criticized BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, saying, "Dictator Ziaur Rahman, basically, formed the BNP to perpetuate the illegally occupied power. He supplied guns to the university students on the pretext of introducing his party's student wing".  In the guise of forming committees across the country, BNP organized all terrorists and miscreants and formed a special force as Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman also continued the same trend later, he said. "When these parties were in power illegally, they did not let any strong opposition grow through their subversive activities and repression. In this digital era, the leaders and activists of these parties are also constantly fooling and confusing ordinary people by spreading rumours online. As a result, other parties are not getting the opportunity to criticize the government constructively and give good advice on various issues," he further said. "The party was isolated from public connection during its birth. Therefore, its leaders and activists are also isolated from one another and their relations are mainly in exchange for money," he added. Comparing the inception of ruling Awami League and that of opposition parties, Joy said, “The Awami League was born in 1949 through a mass movement against the exploitation of the Pakistani government. This party appeared as strong opposition by organizing people to take to the streets in all movements and struggles. But the position of the two so-called main opposition parties in Bangladesh is just the opposite. Both BNP and Jatiya Party were born overnight as government parties." Source: BSS AH

Saad Ershad, son of late Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad has won the by-election of Rangpur-3 constituency. He was declared as the winner in the election unofficially. In this election out of 175 voting centers Saad Ershad with symbol ‘plough’ obtained 58 thousand 878 votes. BNP candidate Rita Rahman bagged 16 thousand 947 votes with symbol ‘sheaf of paddy’. On the other hand independent candidate Makbul Shahriar with symbol ‘motor vehicle’ got 14 thousand 984 votes. After the death of the then opposition leader HM Ershad on July 14, the parliament secretariat declared the seat vacant on July 16. The Election Commission then declared the election schedule for the constituency on September 1. AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday accused Khaleda Zia of paving the way for HM Ershad to take over power in 1982 and enjoying various facilities from the former military ruler. “Sattar (Justice Abdus Sattar) was the acting chairman of BNP. Though Begum Khaleda Zia didn’t join politics at that time, she suddenly made a statement to oust Sattar from the post of chairman. I would like to say Khaleda Zia had created the scope for Ershad to grab power in 1982,” she said. The Prime Minister made the remarks taking part in discussions on the condolence motion on late opposition leader HM Ershad and others at the Jatiya Sangsad. “This is why General Ershad gave them not only two houses but also many other facilities, including Tk 10 lakh in cash. So, BNP didn’t move for the Zia killing case at that time. After many years -- may be in 1991 or 1994 --Khaleda Zia blamed Ershad for killing her husband. Sheikh Hasina said Justice Abdus Sattar was BNP candidate in the 1981 presidential election. In fact, then Army chief General Ershad had made him (Sattar) the candidate. In a foreign newspaper, Ershad announced Sattar as his candidate. But Awami League raised objection to such a candidature and urged for holding the election in a fair manner for the sake of democracy, she said. Sheikh Hasina also recalled the role of former MP and National Awami Party President Prof Muzaffar Ahmad during the Liberation War and that of Indian minister Sushma Swaraj, particularly in implementation of Land Boundary Agreement signed between Bangladesh and India. Mentioning that the higher court declared illegal the grabbing of power by both Ziaur Rahman and HM Ershad, the Prime Minister said calling the duo as president is illegal as per the court verdict.    The Leader of the Parliament, however, said Ershad was personally amicable and prayed for salvation of his departed soul. Talking about Ershad’s regime, Hasina said he would not be controversial had the 1986 parliamentary elections been free and fair. No party had in fact joined the 1988 parliamentary elections and he had to step down in the face of a movement in 1990, Hasina told the House. She said BNP also held such elections on February 15, 1996 when Khaleda Zia was in power. “Almost no party joined the election at that time, too. Though she announced herself as the Prime Minister being elected at that time, she failed to stay in power.” Hasina said Khaleda Zia was forced to step down within 45 days on March 30 in the face of a movement by people. “No matter who says what regarding the election, the fact is that no-one can stay in power without public mandate,” she said. She extended her thanks to Raushon Ershad for her role when BNP boycotted the 2014 general election though many quarters still try to raise question about that election.  “Had there been no participation of people in the polls, we would not have been able to stay in power,” she said adding that her government had completed the five-year tenure before that. Welcoming BNP MPs for joining parliament being elected in the 2018 general election, the Prime Minister said the democratic trend cannot be strengthened without strong opposition in Parliament. Referring to criticisms from BNP MPs about the 2018 election, she said, “Hadn’t the people voted in that election, they could have waged a movement taking people with them and oust us from power as  we toppled Khaleda Zia’s government formed through a voter-less election within one and a half months in 1996.” Source: UNB AH

Rahgir Al Mahi Saad, son of late Hussain Muhammad Ershad has got the nomination from Jatiya Party (JP) in the by-election of Rangpur-3 constituency. Party Chairman GM Quader and Secretary General Mashiur Rahman Ranga took the decision in this regard at Jatiya Party’s Banani office on Sunday noon. Several presidium members confirmed the matter. Earlier, on Tuesday Saad Ershad collected party nomination papers from Banani party office. The voting will take place in the Rangpur-3 constituency on October 5 following the death of HM Ershad. Ershad was elected Member of Parliament from this constituency for five consecutive terms from 1986. AH

Jatiya Party presidium member Kazi Firoz Rashid said, according to the party charter GM Quader is the Chairman of the party. Declaring Raushan Ershad as chairman is illegal. He said these while briefing the newsmen during joint meeting of the party presidium members and parliament members at party chairman’s Banani office in the capital on Friday evening. Kazi Firoz Rashid said, as the party chairmen HM Ershad appointed opposition leader, deputy leader and chief whip after issuing letters. It is the jurisdiction of the party chairman. HM Ershad never held parliamentary committee meeting. Besides it is not mentioned in the charter about holding parliamentary committee meeting. Jatiya Party Chairman Golam Mohammad (GM) Quader will be the opposition leader. In the presidium meeting all the members present supported GM Quader to be the opposition leader. There is nothing to be misguided. The joint meeting started at 5 pm presided over by Jatiya Party Chairman Golam Mohammad Quader. At that time interviews of the nomination seekers were taken for the upcoming Rangpur-3 by-election. Kazi Firoz Rashid, Zia Uddin Ahmed Bablu, Syed Abu Hosen Babla, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Golam Kibria Tipu and others were present in the presidium and parliamentary members’ joint meeting. AH 

Jatiya Party Chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad is going to be shifted to Singapore. For better treatment his family and party have taken the decision. Jatiya Party (JP) secretary general Mashiur Rahman Ranga delivered the information at a press conference at its Banani office on Wednesday afternoon. He said, an expert team will examine the physical condition of Ershad. If they allow then he will be shifted to Singapore after calling an air ambulance. Earlier in the noon at a press conference Ershad’s younger brother and JP acting Chairman GM Kader said that Ershad’s condition was developing. JP Chairman HM Ershad is suffering from hemoglobin problem in blood, besides there are lung and kidney complexities. GM Kader said, the physical condition of Ershad is developing. His lung infection is decreasing. Breathing is going to be normal and kidneys are functioning at the moment. AH  

Jatiya Party Chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad was admitted to hospital following kidney and hemoglobin problem. He was admitted to Critical Care Unit of Combined Military Hospital (CMH) of Dhaka on Wednesday morning. Younger brother of Ershad and Acting Chairman of Jatiya Party GM Kader confirmed the information. He said, recently Ershad returned home after taking treatment from Singapore and was taking further treatment from CMH. But personal officials of Ershad said that he regularly visits CMH for routine checkup. When he feels bad he goes to CMH. Physicians before the eleventh national parliament election informed that hemoglobin production stopped in Ershad’s blood. AH       

A day after nominating his younger brother as his party successor, ailing Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad on Sunday donated his all assets to a trust. “Our chairman has donated his all movable and immovable assets to a trust,” Jatiya Party presidium member SM Faisal Chisti told UNB on Sunday evening. He said a five-member trustee board was also formed in the afternoon. The trustee board members include HM Ershad, his son Eric Ershad, personal secretary Maj (retd) Khaled Akhtar, cousin Mukul, and his personal staff Mohammad Jahangir. The former military ruler, however, did not include his wife Raushon Ersahd in the trustee board. In a dramatic move on Saturday, Ershad reinstated his younger brother GM Quader as party chairman in his absence. He took the decision just two days after Quader was also reinstated as the party’s co-chairman. The maverick former military strongman, known for frequently changing his decisions, had relieved GM Quader of Jatiya Party’s co-chairman post and its organizational duty on March 22. A day later, he removed Quader from the post of the deputy leader of opposition in parliament, nominating his wife Raushon for the post. Source: UNB AH

Jatiya Party Chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad in this time has removed Ghulam Muhammad (GM) Kader from the post of deputy leader of opposition in the Jatiya Sangsad. Ershad informed this in a letter submitted to the Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad on Saturday. In the letter Ershad wrote- As the Jatiya Party Chairman, main opposition leader and parliamentary party Chairman, I remove Ghulam Muhammad Kader from the post of main deputy leader of opposition. Begum Rawshan Ershad has been nominated for the post of main deputy leader of opposition. In the letter Ershad said, the decision was taken according to the clause 20/1/Ka of the party constitution. In this regard proposal is submitted to the Jatiya Sangsad Speaker for taking necessary steps. Earlier on Friday Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad removed GM Kader from the post of party co-chairman. AH    

Jatiya Party Chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad may be taken to Singapore for better treatment. At present he is undergoing treatment at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka cantonment. Political and Press Secretary to Jatiya Party Chairman Sunil Shuvo Roy confirmed the matter to Rtv online. He said, at present the Chairman is undergoing treatment at CMH. He is better than earlier at the moment. Preparations are being taken to take him to Singapore for better treatment. He will be taken to Singapore after confirming appointment with the physicians.  Ershad was admitted at CMH on January 5. He came from there and took oath as the Member of Parliament. Earlier HM Ershad went to Singapore for treatment on December 10 and returned to the country after 15 days on December 26. Jatiya Party Chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad is the opposition leader in the eleventh national parliament. He was elected MP from Rangpur-3 constituency. He was also physically sick during the election. The eleventh national parliament election was held on December 30. In the election the grand Alliance won 288 seats and of that Jatiya Party bagged 22 seats and emerged as the main opposition party. AH