Parliamentary democracy under threat, says Ershad

Former President and Jatiya Party Chairman H M Ershad speaks at a 'meet the press programme' in the city yesterday. Photo: STAR

Everyday at least 15 people were being killed and various crimes such as kidnapping, rape and mugging hit the headlines daily, he said, adding that all these indicated government's failure in running the country.

Even the government was running parliament without the main opposition party, former president Ershad said at a 'meet the press' programme.

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"During the rule of the previous government, there were 10 killings a day, but now 15 killings take place a day," he said, adding that this is the basic difference between the two governments.

The JP chief said the three factions of the party are going to be merged by this year. Talks are under way to bring back the leaders who left the party, he added.

Ershad alleged that the government was not interested enough to bring back the main opposition to parliament as the ruling party wants to bring parliament under its control.

He urged the government to induct all the members of the Jatiya party into the parliamentary standing committees. Otherwise, the JP members will quit the committees, he threatened.

Ershad said the people have been losing their confidence on the judiciary as the ruling party was trying to politicise it.

TIM Fazle Rabbi, GM Kader, Karimuddin Bhorosa, Ruhul Amin Howlader, Col (retd) Gaffar and Prof. Delwar Hossain were also present.