JP to take part in next polls independently: Ershad

Jatiya Party (JP) chairman HM Ershad on Tuesday said that his party would take part in next national elections independently, reports UNB. JP is an election-oriented party and it would take part in all polls, including city corporations, he said while addressing a public meeting at Chandana crossing in Sadar Upazila. District unit of the party organized the meeting marking the "Constitution Protection Day". JP secretary general Ruhul Amin Hawlader, among others, addressed the meeting, which was chaired by district unit president Brigadier General (rtd) Kazi Mahmud Hasan. Referring to split of Dhaka City Corporation, Ershad said his party protested against the decision of the government. He called on the government not to do anything which will prove harmful to the people. Citing the probable harmful effects of Tipaimukh Dam, Ershad, also former president, said people would resist the construction of the dam at any cost. He called on the people to join the December 10 long march called by his party from Dhaka to Sylhet to register protest against the construction of the dam. Mentioning the Constitution Protection Day, the JP chief said: "We relinquished power on the day on December 6 in 1990 in the interest of the people on condition that I would be allowed to take part in polls. But the condition was violated and I along with my party activists were sent to jail under Special Powers Act". He introduced Kazi Mahmud Hasan as possible candidate of JP in the next Gazipur city corporation elections.