Defence witness ABM Shahjahan tn the corruption case against former President Ershad Sunday told the court that he declined to Join BNP which was "a centre for rehabilitation of rajakars", report* UNB.

A Minister tn Ershad cabinet, Shahjahan, however, shrank when the prosecution enquired If he knew Maulana Abdul Mannan who joined Jatlya Party and was inducted In Ershad cabinet.

"Yea, he (Maulana Mannan) Is the only man with stigma of rajakar taken tn our party", said Shahjahan. Joint Seer etary General of Jatlya Party

Deposing before the court Shahjahan said he began politic* from student life to I960* as a member of Chhatra League. Joined Mujib Bahlnl during -Liberation War. J 3D in 1973 and later Jatlya Party.

AU through a good student, he won the Master* degree In Applied Chemistry form Rajshahl University in 1960.

Replying to a prosecution query Shahjahan • said late President Ziaur Rahman and sitting minister Brig (Rtd) Hannan Shah had offered him to join BNP. but he declined for he felt It was a rehabllita Uon centre for rajakars who collaborated with the occupation force during the Liberation War

Shahjahan filed in February a suit claiming the money found in the official residence of deposed President Ershad as Jatlya Party money deposited with the party chairman (Ershad).

Ershad faces trial in special judge court for amassing wealth Including a cash of Taka 1.90.81.565 beyond known sources of Income which may earn him a maximum seven year* Imprisonment He has already been sentenced to 10 years in Jail and faces three more corruption cases.

The cross-examination of Shahjahan will resume today (Monday).

Earlier, deposing before the court the defence witness said he had joined JSD in May 1973 as the then government (Awami League) resorted to oppression and later assumed the position of General Secretary of JSD (Siraj). He was elected MP iri 1986 on Jatlya Party ticket

Shahjahan claimed himself a real freedom fighter and Brig Tozammel Hossain of the occupation forces had surrendered to him along with S27 troops. He said he was attracted by the bold, honest and dedicated leadership of Ershad and joined Jatlya Party