Ershad visits JP office after 42 days

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Former President HM Ershad who is has been appointed special envoy to the prime minister visited his party office Jatiya Party (JP) at city’s Banani on Wednesday noon. The visit took place after 42 days. He was kept apparently “confined at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) for more than a month.” The mystery over his stay at the CMH on the eve of the country’s stage managed “farcical” election on January 5 remains still unclear to the people. Ershad made contradictory statements centering the elections. Initially he had said that his party would not join polls if it is not held with participation of other parties. But following the announcement of the election schedule by the Election Commission Ershad changed decision. Having decided to join the polls in the name of upholding the constitution and continuation of democratic process, he again decided to boycott. Some of the candidates including his younger brother former minister GM Kader had withdrawn their nomination papers in response to his directives. But the nomination papers of some of the JP leaders were later shown as valid on “technical grounds.” In the process several candidates were among the list of the 153 elected unopposed in the elections. Ershad also reportedly put a few conditions for taking oath. The JP had a good bargain with the prime minister with his conditions and following fulfillment of some of his conditions he took the oath on Saturday last.The deal between the government and the JP on participation in the controversial elections still remains unclear to the people.On information of his visit to the party office some leaders and activists of the party rushed to the office, sources said.Ershad joined the office at 1.40pm and exchanged greetings with some the leaders and activists.  He had been to the party office last on December 3.

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