'JP will never form alliance with BNP'

Photo: STAR

H.M. Ershad, chairman of Jatiya Party (JP), as army chief, usurped state power in a coup d'etat on March 24, 1982, and ruled the country first as chief martial law administrator and then as president. He was compelled to resign from power in December 1990 following a mass upsurge. Later he was elected to the fifth parliament from jail and JP became the third largest party in the parliament. Rashidul Hasan and Suranjith Deabnath took his exclusive interview.
Do you have any confusion over holding parliamentary election on December 18?
I have no doubt at all. As far as I know, election must take place on December 18. I am certain about it. The present caretaker government should leave after holding the parliamentary election for the greater interest of the nation.
All major political parties have raised demand of withdrawal of state of emergency for holding of election, except you. Why?
It is a settled matter. The caretaker government has already announced that election would be held under emergency. Otherwise, all the corrupt people and thieves, who are in jail, will come back and try to destroy the peaceful atmosphere. Emergency should remain during the election for stopping terrorist activities, ensuring the voters' security, resisting snatching of vote boxes, and halting casting of fake votes.
You also support holding upazilla election -- but is it possible to hold the upazilla election only five later after the parliamentary election?
Both AL and BNP stated several times that they wished to hold the upazilla and parliamentary elections on the same day. Actually, they do not want holding the upazilla election. Previous times, both parties did not hold upazilla election even after the order of the High Court. I think that the present election commission should not change the upazilla election schedule.
AL opposes local observers for coming poll. Do you support it?
Yes, I support it. The chiefs of many local observers are loyal to BNP. But foreign observers should be allowed more during the election period.
Which issues will get priority in your party manifesto?
If our party wins in the election and forms government, we will introduce provisional government system, provide special foods for distressed people, distribute seasonal loans to the real farmers, establish atomic power plants, and build accommodation building for police.
Have you started seat-sharing discussion with AL? How many seats you are expecting?
We want at least 60 seats, as we got this number of seats from the grand alliance for January 22, 2007 elections. Though this time we may ask more seats if we find competent candidates.
What will you do if AL agrees to give less seats against your demands?
Never it will be done. There is no problem for JP to get 60 seats from grand alliance because I regularly talk with Sheikh Hasina about seat sharing. We have good communication with each others.
The results of last three parliamentary elections showed a downward trend in JP popularity. How do justify seeking so many seats?
I was in jail during 1991 and 1996 election, and I was not allowed to contest election in 2001. For these reasons, I could not conduct election campaign. Now we are a very popular party because our countrymen have found many positive things during my tenure which were absent during AL and BNP ruling period.
Will JP join BNP-led four-party alliance if other component of 14-party alliance refuses you?
JP will never form alliance with BNP whereas grand alliance with AL could be formed or not. JP has the ability to contest the general election alone. Sheikh Hasina knows JP is more valuable or more useful than 14-party others partners. So, she will decide JP will be involved or not with the grand alliance. I don't any comment against the opposing position of alliance partners.
After 1/11 you raised question several times against the existence of the grand alliance. Now why are you eager to return the grand alliance?
It is wrong. I did not raise question against the existence of grand alliance. I was in grand alliance and my party is still in grand alliance because it is yet to be split. The existence of grand alliance will be decided after Sheikh Hasina returns from abroad.
There is a wide allegation that JP is an autocratic political party -- means much more Ershad-dependent party. What measures have you taken to ensure democratic practices in the party?
I have curtailed my power through changing the party constitution. Now I have to take action after talking with presidium members. After introducing this, I hope JP is now more pro-democracy compared to the previous time. Now the party's chairman and secretary general will be elected for three years but for no more than two terms.
Do you believe the culture of the country's politics will be changed due to Representation of People Order (RPO) revised by the EC?
We have welcomed EC and accepted the conditions of RPO. I believe it will help to change our political culture. But it is very important to change our attitude in political parties. This country does not belong to any political party. All parties must understand this. When any party go to power, its leaders should keep this in mind.
Did you bring changes in JP constitution due to pressure from EC?
I believe political reform is not a matter of imposing and it should be brought to meet the party's demands. We changed our party's constitution not only due to pressure from EC but also making the party more democratic. But it is true that all political parties started to amend their constitution following the RPO condition of the EC.
After 20 month long anti-corruption drive, many corrupt individuals are now coming out under bail. What is your comment regarding this?
We have welcomed the anti-corruption drive. Our countrymen have also welcomed it because BNP-Jamaat alliance broke all of the previous records of corruption. Discontent has emerged among people because corrupt individuals are coming out through the bail. I don't give any comment due to fear of contempt of court.
Should the political parties give nomination to those who are either convicted or accused in graft cases?
Of course never. Corruption charged politicians have still huge amount of money. They can purchase votes using their black money which is contrary to any democratic practice and fair election.
There were huge allegations of corruption against you. Do you think yourself fit as a candidate for election?
I have no allegation of corruption. All corruption cases were false. All the allegations against me have been proved wrong.
What's your opinion on proposed dialogue between Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia?
There is no need of dialogue between the two leaders. What they will talk about when there is no agenda? Once we thought they might discuss about national government. But that is also out now. It will be better atmosphere if all political parties, sitting together, take decision to never call hartal or walk-out from parliament.
You have an allegation of receiving huge money from AL and BNP before the cancelled January election in 2007. Is it true?
You can ask Sheikh Hasina. She is the only person who can tell you. On the other hand, I came out from the four-party because I did not take any money from them.
Will you become president if your grand alliance with AL wins the election?
It is a very difficult question to answer [smiling]. When we formed the grand alliance last year, there was an understanding between the general secretary of AL and the secretary general of JP that the alliance would make me president.
How many seats will you contest in the upcoming election?
Three constituencies -- Rangpur-3 (Sadar), Habiganj-3 (Sadar and Lakhai), and Dhaka-17 (Dhaka cantonment-Gulshan) according to the new demarcation of constituencies.
What is the lesson of 1/11?
We could not know the depth of corruption if 1/11 had not come. Qualitative changes could not come in the nation without it. It brought changes in our mind. Now the politicians are thinking in a different way. 1/11 was really an eye opener to our politicians.
Everyone has termed you as a former autocratic ruler. What is your comment on it?
I am not an arrogant person. Such a polite person like me is rare in the country.