Some top BNP leaders may join JP: Ershad

RANGPUR, Feb 20 (BSS): Jatiya Party (JP) chairman Hussein Muhammad Ershad said today some top popular BNP leaders might join his party and take part in the next general elections.

"We will definitely take them if they are good leaders. I will also give them nominations for the next elections," he said while talking to journalists at the Circuit House in Rangpur, his hometown.

The former president whose Jatiya Party is an ally of the ruling Awami League-led 14-party combine, visibly supplemented Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's yesterday's comments saying, elections should be held in due time no matter BNP contests it or not.

"If the two parties Awami League and Jatiya Party participate in the next general elections, elections will be held whether or not other parties take part (and). BNP will gain nothing by threatening to boycott the next polls," he said.

Earlier today Ershad reached Rangpur by air from Dhaka and went straight to the circuit house from Syedpur airport.

Jatiya Party co-chairman Golam Mohammad Quader, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mashiur Rahman Ranga, mayor of Rangpur and the party's city unit president Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa, general secretary SM Yasser and local JP leaders were present.