The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Awami League and Jatiya Party (JP) yesterday announced their formal tie to contest in the upcoming national election and also to form government together, they win.

Delegation of the two parties led by their respective heads ex- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former President HM Ershad reached in the agreement at a meeting at the former's residence at Dhanmondi in the city yesterday. The two former rulers also agreed on the moot point that the election must be held on December 18, as scheduled.

Ershad, after the meeting said, "We have decided to contest the election unitedly and also to form government unitedly."

He said they want election on December 18 and hoped all parties would join the fray for restoring democracy in the country.

The former President noted that if the election couldn't take place on December 18, there would be doubt about the elections at a later date.

Asked about his aspired presidency-nearly two decades after his unceremonious exit amid a people-power movement--Ershad said there was an agreement (with Hasina) before, but the matter was not discussed at today's meeting. It will be discussed later on.

On seat sharing, he said that the issue is yet to be discussed elaborately. Our representatives will do it.

AL spokes person Syed Ashraful Islam, echoed what Ershad said about the united position on contesting election and formation of the government.

"We took this decision before one-eleven. We vowed to participate in the election and forming the government under the banner of grand alliance," he said.

He said, "Two teams, representing the two parties, are working to reach a consensus over distribution of seats. We will continue discussions before the last minute of withdrawal of the nomination paper."

Ashraful said they had earlier discussions with allies in the 14-party alliance and finalization of the candidatures would be done before the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers.

JP leader Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud said they have no objection against the entry of any party into the grand alliance, but it depends on Awami League. He expressed ignorance about the prospect of BNP's pro-reform leaders jumping on the bandwagon of the grand alliance led by their traditional political foe AL.

Jatiya Party was a component of the AL-led 'grand alliance' forged for the forestalled general election in 2007.

However, the left lining parties in the alliance including Worker's Party, Gonotantry Party and Sammobadi Dal have misgivings about including JP in the alliance.

Hasina was accompanied by her senior party colleagues like Amir Hossain Amu, Abdur Razzak, Tofael Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Matia Chowdhury and Syed Ashraf.

Ershad was assisted by party secretary general Ruhul Amin Hawlader and presidium members Kazi Zafar Ahmed and Ziauddin Bablu.