A BNP delegation of Deputy Minister Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu and Jatiyotabadi Jubo Dal General Secretary Moazzem Hossain Alal MP went to Ershad's Baridhara residence at 'President Park' to discuss issues as outlined by BNP's Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman.

Sources said they asked Ershad to shun dilly-dallying and join the BNP-led coalition within this month.

Ershad also sent out three of his party lawmakers, led by Moshiur Rahman Ranga, to talk out 'issues of his concern' with Tarique at his 'Hawa Bhaban' office.

Their meeting dragged on for over an hour, and the JP lawmakers reportedly assured Tarique of joining the alliance as soon as the former president safely sees off a number of lawsuits against him.

Moshiur however told The Daily Star that they talked with Tarique about some problems with the BNP in their constituencies.

"We are now very close to the ruling BNP, you know," quipped Moshiur, who was accompanied by Nur Mohammad Mondal and Tajul Islam Chowdhury.

Terming the latest meetings of the two parties interesting, political and legal analysts said the court verdict would determine whether Ershad would continue to be a factor in the politics of alliance.

If the court finds Ershad guilty, the BNP move to bring his party in the alliance fold may suffer a setback, they felt.

On the other hand, if the JP chief is acquitted of the charges, it will be easy for Ershad to join the alliance, and the question of withdrawal of other cases against him will then come.

Of the cases filed against the deposed president, verdicts in two more are ready for delivery, 13 cases are under trial, two under investigation and two pending with the High Court after lower courts gave their verdicts.

The Special Court of Dhaka Division is scheduled to deliver today its judgement in a case against Ershad for illegal withdrawal of income tax money. Delivery of the judgement, which was almost readied about three years ago, was deferred twice.

Judge Malik Abdullah Al Amin of the special court will also give his decision whether charges would be framed in another two graft cases against Ershad.

Meanwhile, the First Additional Metropolitan Session Judge's Court on Sunday fixed August 27 for delivery of its verdict in a case against Ershad concerning allotment of plots to 49 people when he was president. Hearing of gold smuggling case against him will be held at this court on the same day.

Lawyers of the Dhaka bar and political analysts said the verdict is likely be delivered today as the government has initiated steps for quick disposal of the cases against the JP chief, who could not contest the 2001 parliamentary election for conviction in a graft case.

"The case was at the final stage for the last three years. It is interesting that suddenly the prosecution and defence lawyers completed their final arguments in a day and the court fixed the date for delivery of judgment," a senior lawyer told The Daily Star on condition of anonymity.

"It happened so as the ruling BNP has moved to bring Ershad in its electoral alliance ahead of the next parliamentary election."

In a surprise move, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman and State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar on July 27 met Ershad at his residence and proposed his joining the ruling alliance. They met him following Rawshan Ershad's meeting with the prime minister on July 2.

Following the July 27 meeting, Ershad, who heads the second largest opposition party in parliament, declared that the BNP assured him of exemption from the graft cases pending against him.

In another development, Rawshan Ershad on Monday met Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and demanded 50 seats for JP in the next parliamentary election.

The ruling party's desperate move to have the JP in the alliance fold triggered debates in the political arena. Even several senior leaders of the JP reacted sharply over Ershad's declaration for joining the ruling alliance and threatened to form another fraction of the party. But Ershad remains rigid on his position regarding joining the alliance as he does not want to be behind bars again, sources mentioned.

Ershad, who was in jail for five years during the tenure of the previous BNP government, was released on bail from cases one after another on political understanding with the Awami League (AL) government for supporting the AL to form the government in 1996.

VERDICT IN GRAFT CASE
The special court on August 10 for the third time fixed a date for delivery of judgment in the corruption case against Ershad for illegal withdrawal of his income tax money.

The same court had earlier fixed judgement dates twice.

The court first deferred the judgement in September 2003 when defence lawyers stated that their client would not get justice from the court. The date was re-fixed in July 2004 due to illness of the judge.

In the case filed with Ramna Police Station, it was alleged that Ershad, while in power, paid Tk 7,43,416 as income tax for six years (1983-1989). Later, he withdrew Tk 2,76,324 from the income tax money without submitting any documents in favour of his action.

HEARING ON CHARGE-FRAMING
The court on August 12 fixed August 17 for hearing on charge-framing against Ershad and five others in two graft cases.

In the first case, Ershad and former energy and mineral resources minister Anwar Hossain Manju are accused of causing a loss of $79,000 to public exchequer.

The case, filed with the Tejgaon Police Station, alleged that the then president Ershad and Manju awarded a contract to the Scimitar Oils for drilling and exploring 1,650 square kilometres of area in Haripur oil field in 1987, which caused the loss to the state.

The investigation officer (IO) of the case pressed charges against them on May 2, 2003.

In the other case, Ershad, former education minister Sheikh Shahidul Islam and three others are accused of purchasing two ships from Pakistan during 1988-1991 causing a huge wastage of public money.

It is alleged that Ershad, Sheikh Shahid, two high officials of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) and a businessman in collusion with others bought the ships by forging documents. This caused a loss of Tk 2,95,698,000 to the public exchequer.

The IO pressed charges against Ershad and four others on August 27, 2003.