JP protests 'confinement' of Ershad

Jatiya Party yesterday announced a two-day countrywide agitation programme demanding the release of party chief HM Ershad from “confinement” by the government at the Combined Military Hospital in the name of treatment.
Under the programme, the party is set to hold protest rallies today at all upazila and district headquarters and to submit memorandums tomorrow to all deputy commissioners' office, said JP Secretary General Ruhul Amin Howlader at a press conference at Ershad's Banani office.
Meanwhile, JP senior presidium member Raushan Ershad met HM Ershad last night at the CMH, two private television channels reported quoting sources in the government.
The meeting lasted for about 40 minutes but what the two discussed could not be known.
Another JP presidium member and younger brother of Ershad, GM Quader, said those, who had violated the party chairman's decision of not participating in the national election by not withdrawing their nomination papers, would face disciplinary actions.
As many as 21 JP leaders have so far been elected unopposed, as some of them did not withdraw their nomination papers while returning officers did not accept applications seeking withdrawal of nomination papers of some others, including HM Ershad and GM Quader.