The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rangpur

Former President and Jatiyo Party (JP) Chairman Alhaj Hussein Muhammad Ershad on Tuesday said his party will ensure uniform development of all regions in the country including Rangpur if his party is voted to power. He thanked the Election Commission for announcing the election schedule and added that there is no confusion about holding of the elections on December 18 next and people want his party to be in power once again for their developments.

Ershad said JP will take part in the elections as a part of the Mohajyote and the process of seat sharing will be resolved after return of Awami League chief and Mohajyote leader Sheikh Hasina soon.

"I hope, JP will get more seats now from the Mohajyote and there will be no problem in resolving the seat- sharing issue as my party and other Mohajyote parties will put maximum emphasis in making the nominated candidates winners in the constituencies," he said.

He said this while formally launching his party's campaign for the December 18 general elections through a series of daylong roadside meetings and public contacts in his own city of Rangpur till Monday night and other programmes in Rangpur and Nilphamari today.

Terming himself as a very lucky one, Ershad thanked Almighty Allah for allowing him to launch his election campaign once again from Rangpur and asked the people of Rangpur to vote for JP like in the past to ensure good governance and national developments.

JP chairman addressed the roadside meetings and door to door contacts in Ashratpur, Mahiganj Bazaar, Satmatha, Shalban Mistripara, Jummapara, Islampur, Medical Purbo Gate, CO Bazaar, Dhap Lalkuthi, Keranipara Mour, Rampura, Parbotipur, Central Bus Terminal, Ershad Mour, Mulatol and Pourashava Bazaar in the city Monday.

Besides, he addressed roadside meetings at Taraganj and Ekorchali Bazaar in Rangpur and two other meetings at Syedpur and Nilphamari towns today before departing for Dhaka this afternoon. He also talked to the common people including distressed women and men and asked about their whereabouts while conducting his door to door and wayside public contacts as a part of his launching election campaign.

Ershad said that there is no alternative to JP for the overall development of the country and the people from all walks in the society want to vote his party to power in the upcoming general elections.

He thanked the Rangpur people for voting for his candidates while he had been in jail during the 1991 and 1996 general elections and also for his brother Golam Mohammad Kader in Sadar Constituency in the 2001 elections when he was barred from taking part in that elections.

"I owe to Rangpur people and, in return, my turn and last chance have come now to do something good for them and I ask the people of the area to vote for my party to bring it to power and in making me as President or the Prime Minister to serve you all," he said.

"There is doubt if anybody would become the President or Prime Minister of the country from Rangpur anytime in future or not, but, this is the time for the Rangpur people to vote for JP to make me, a son of Rangpur, the President or Prime Minister for your developments", Ershad said.

During the roadside meetings and public contacts, Ershad also acquainted himself as an MP candidate from Rangpur Sadar (Rangpur-3) parliamentary constituency for the upcoming general election and declared a package for smooth development of the country and its people.

The package include: constituting eight provinces, making Rangpur as a provincial capital, ensuring all- out developments of Rangpur in all sectors, eradicating monga once for all, rationing system for the poor, resolving residence problem of police members and many other programmes. Former JP MPs Alhaj Karim Uddin Bharsha, Mohammad Ali Sarker and Noor Mohammad Mandal, Secretary of Rangpur district unit of JP Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa, Mayor of Rangpur pourashava Abdur Rouf Manik, JP leaders Fakhruzzaman Jahangir, SM Yasir, Asif Shahriar and Nilphamari JP Leaders accompanied Ershad.