Jatiya Party (Ershad) might not join any alliance led by Awami League or BNP before the upcoming election, instead they might seek to forge a new alliance with some religion based political parties, said sources.

JP Chairman HM Ershad at a view exchange meeting with the party presidium and advisory council members and former lawmakers yesterday said within 15 of this month it will be finalised whether to join any alliance ahead of the next

election.

At the meeting, he spoke to clarify his position on the latest developments regarding JP and the possibility of its alliance with others.

Later when the other leaders were addressing, he suddenly stopped the meeting and said he will hear everyone today.

Only five leaders including Roushan Ershad got the chance to speak yesterday. Party leader GM Quader and some other leaders did not attend the meeting.

(The ^aily ^tar

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Party sources said HM Ershad, Roushan Ershad and a few other senior leaders are interested to join the BNP-led alliance while most of the former lawmakers who are still popular among their constituents are opposed to the idea as they are convinced that in no way will BNP win the next election.

Against this background, Ershad is now trying to float an alliance like Islami Oikya Front that he had formed before the election in 2001. JP has already contacted some Islamic parties and discussions to that end are on, added the sources.

"When the country is going through a crisis period, all the parties believing in Islamic values should be united and I am ready to lead them," a party insider quoted Ershad as saying at yesterday's meeting held at Banani Community Centre.

The deposed military ruler also said that JP cannot afford to make a mistake now and it can return to power againif it remainsintact.

Currently, there is a lot of debate on the caretaker government and the election seems uncertain as none of the two main parties wants to make concessions.

"Only an independent and powerful Election Commission can conduct a free and fair election," he observed.

Describing the cases filed against him, Ershad urged his party men," I am carrying a lot of loads. Please try to be with me. I will lead you and the country to power again. Jatiya Party will have to make an appropriate decision within November 15."

After the meeting, Ershad told the newsmen, " I am in doubt whether or not the 14-party combine will participate in the election as it seems that the CEC will not resign."

He expressed dissatisfaction over the party leaders' reaction on his earlier decision to side with the BNP-led alliance. He said, "The party presidium empowered me to take the decision. Still I sat with the leaders and they assured me that they would support whatever decision I made. But some of them went public with their resentment."

Everyone should speak his mind at the party forum, he added.

Referring to the Nur Hossain Day and Dr Milon Day, Ershad said that Milon was killed in crossfire. "At least 16,500 people were killed in last five

years and 28 people were killed on 28 October alone. Now why should the nation not observe any day for these killings?" he asked.

Roushan Ershad said JP should go with the ideology of Islamic values and Bangladeshi nationalism.

Dr Shafiullah, adviser to the party chairman, said, "We cannot join any alliance merely on the basis of seat sharing."

Another leader of the party observed that the BNP had torn down the backbone of the Jatiya Party by doing away with the upazila system. "So, why should we shoulder the BNP's misrule," he asked.

Some other leaders said it is not possible yet for the party to contest the election on its own.

At this stage, Ershad stopped the meeting and said, "I cannot hear anyone else today because of a problem with the sound system."

JP General Secretary Ruhul Amin Hawlader, Kazi Zafar Ahmed, and Kazi Firoj Rashid were also present.