The New Nation - Internet Edition

Desk Report

Former president Hussain Mohammad Ershad said all negative speculations on the general election have been defused after the Army Chief reassured the editors and senior journalists of different media at a meeting on Tuesday.

Ershad was speaking at a function organised by Jatiya Jubo Sanghati at a city hotel yesterday to mark their 25th founding anniversary.

He said, "We want a free, fair and credible election to establish a democratic government and to do so, the political leaders should change their mentality and political culture."

Jatiya Party Chairman said, "The government should sit with all the political parties before the next parliamentary election to discuss the country's political scenario. Besides, the political parties should sign a people's charter where they must give their commitment to the nation that they would work for the people's interest after going to power."

Ershad also reiterated that his party could form an alliance with the other like-minded parties before the next parliamentary election.

He said, "As the government did not stock enough rice after the Sidr, so the price of food items like rice has increased, the government should introduce rationing system to distribute rice among the poor people."

"Had there been January 22 election, the country might have experienced a civil strife, because the past government tried to come to power through a conspiracy, In the last 15 years, we had three democratic governments, but there was no real democracy." said the former president.

Appreciating some steps taken by the Caretaker Government, Ershad said, "The EC has been reconstituted and separated from the Prime Minister's Office. The government initiative to formulate a National Security Council is a good move. Besides, the judiciary has been separated from the executive body."

Among others, JP General Secretary ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader and Acting Party Chairman Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud were also present on the occasion.