Jatiya Party to remain with Awami League

Senior Reporter: Jatiya Party will be allied with the 14-party alliance for the upcoming general election and will form the government together.

After the dialogue between Jatiya Party and the ruling alliance at Ganabhaban on Monday night, the parties had reached a consensus.

The election will be held within the scope of the constitution and the law. Jatiya Party, like the 14-party alliance, agrees on this,” sources said.

But sources said there had been no talk of seat distribution at the dialogue.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thanked the Jatiya Party for its cooperation in Bangladesh’s development while Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad did not raise any demands unlike the other political groups.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader hinted at reaching a consensus with the Jatiya Party over contesting in the next general elections.

Jatiya Party fought in the ninth general elections in alliance with the Awami League. It became the main opposition party in parliament after the BNP boycotted the election in 2014.

Ershad placed eight proposals, but no demands, for fair polls during the talks, according to Jatiya Party Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader.

Ershad proposed limited use of electronic voting machines or EVMs this time, arguing that the people should be given time to get used to the machines.

He told Hasina that they should not wait for any party to join the elections, Howlader said.

Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina led a 23-member delegation of the 14-party alliance at the dialogue, while a 32-member UNA team was led by Jatiya Party and UNA Chairman HM Ershad.

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad and Senior Co-Chairman and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Begum Raushan Ershad greeted the premier by presenting a bouquet when she entered the Banquet Hall.


risingbd/Dhaka/Nov 6, 2018/Noimuddin/Mukul