UNB, Dhaka :
Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad on Thursday said BNP will be forced to join the next polls to protect its registration with the Election Commission though it boycotted the 10th parliamentary elections.
Speaking at a meet-the-press programme at a community centre in Gulshan, he also said his party will perform better than BNP in the next polls.
“We’ll go to the polls aiming to return to power like other parties…I can’t say whether BNP will join the next polls or not. But, if they boycott it, their party’s registration will be put at stake. So, they’ll be forced to participate in it,” he said. Jatiya Party arranged the programme ahead of its scheduled grand rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the city on January 1, marking its 31st founding anniversary.
Mentioning that political parties should not boycott polls, he said, “A politician can never retire… a politician can never be out of election. Political party must join polls. Our existence is still strong as we joined elections.” According to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972, the registration of a political party may be cancelled if it does not participate in the parliamentary elections for two consecutive terms.
Ershad said, the next polls will be held under the current government as per the constitution. “But, we want the election to be held in a free and fair manner like Narayanganj one.” He said their party wants to contest 300 seats independently in the next polls. “We preformed better when we contested polls independently than with alliance. Rather, our party suffered by joining polls under alliance.” The former President said as BNP’s organisational strength has now become much weaker for many reasons, Jatiya Party will do better in the next polls.
About Wednesday’s zila parishad polls, Ershad said his party did not join the election as there was not voting by common people since all the voters belong to the ruling party. About Narayanganj City Corporation polls, he said their party did not take part in it as their now main focus is on national election.
Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad on Thursday said BNP will be forced to join the next polls to protect its registration with the Election Commission though it boycotted the 10th parliamentary elections.
Speaking at a meet-the-press programme at a community centre in Gulshan, he also said his party will perform better than BNP in the next polls.
“We’ll go to the polls aiming to return to power like other parties…I can’t say whether BNP will join the next polls or not. But, if they boycott it, their party’s registration will be put at stake. So, they’ll be forced to participate in it,” he said. Jatiya Party arranged the programme ahead of its scheduled grand rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the city on January 1, marking its 31st founding anniversary.
Mentioning that political parties should not boycott polls, he said, “A politician can never retire… a politician can never be out of election. Political party must join polls. Our existence is still strong as we joined elections.” According to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972, the registration of a political party may be cancelled if it does not participate in the parliamentary elections for two consecutive terms.
Ershad said, the next polls will be held under the current government as per the constitution. “But, we want the election to be held in a free and fair manner like Narayanganj one.” He said their party wants to contest 300 seats independently in the next polls. “We preformed better when we contested polls independently than with alliance. Rather, our party suffered by joining polls under alliance.” The former President said as BNP’s organisational strength has now become much weaker for many reasons, Jatiya Party will do better in the next polls.
About Wednesday’s zila parishad polls, Ershad said his party did not join the election as there was not voting by common people since all the voters belong to the ruling party. About Narayanganj City Corporation polls, he said their party did not take part in it as their now main focus is on national election.
