The case recently filed by Returning Officer of Lalmonirhat district against Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad for violating Representation of the People’s Order (RPO) is nothing but a veiled threat against the former military ruler, party leaders said requesting anonymity.
The filing of the case was preceded by Ershad’s move to bring his party out of the government to make it a ‘real’ opposition party. His forcing of Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Begum Raushan Ershad to refrain from giving winding up speech on the last day of the Budget Session and critical speeches against the government irritated the ruling party leadership, they said on Wednesday.
A JP Presidium member said yesterday, “The recent fixing of date for hearing of the ‘Rudder Purchase Corruption case’ against the JP Chairman has saddened Ershad.”
Ershad could not be reached for his comment, despite repeated attempts last evening.
“Ershad seriously put pressure on Raushan Ershad to withdraw party Presidium member and Water Resources Minister Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud and State Minister for Labour and Expatriate Welfare Mujibul Huq Chunnu from the cabinet. As Ershad wanted to deliver winding up speech since he is the party chairman, so Raushan did not attend the concluding session,” a Jatiya Party (JP) Presidium member said, adding, “Ershad made a number of speeches asserting that popularity of Awami League (AL) is waning fast due to the government’s failure.”
Ershad’s stance has created embarrassing situation for the government and the ruling party leadership became unhappy over his comments. Most of the Jatiya Party (JP) MPs, who belong to Raushan camp in the party, are unhappy with Ershad.
In the meantime, the Election Commission directed Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Returning Officer (RO) Lalmonirhat to file a case with local police station against Ershad for violating RPO through non-submission of statement of Election expenses within two month 20 days. The RPO stipulates submission statement of election expenses within 30 days of announcement election result through gazette notification.
Ershad had filed nomination paper to contest January 5 general election from Lamonirhat-1 (Patgram-Hatibandha) constituency. He latter withdrew candidature from the seat, which was not accepted on technical ground thus he remained a valid candidate. Instead of submitting statement of election expenditure, he made a statement that he did not contest in the election from the seat.
Ershad’s Political Advisor and JP Presidium member Kazi Firoj Rashid MP told The New Nation on Wednesday that Ershad committed a mistake by claiming that he has boycotted the polls although he was elected an MP and attending Parliament sessions regularly. “He is also functioning as an MP,” he added.
Ershad submitted his statement of election expenses to Lalmonirhat RO on Monday, he said.
Political observers said that the resumption of hearing of ‘Rudder purchase corruption case’ is a new warning to the JP Chairman that he might face trouble if he does not stop criticizing the government.
The ‘Rudder purchase corruption case’ was filed on May 4, 1992 by the then Bureau of Anti-Corruption against Ershad for causing over Taka 640 million loss to the state chauffer through low-powered Rudder by shady deal with a USA suppliers for Bangladesh Air Force.
