Ershad foresees Khaleda going to jail

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina's special emissary HM Ershad on Tuesday said BNP chief Khaleda Zia will be put in jail as per court verdict before the 11th parliamentary polls.

"It seems to be so given the trends of proceedings in the pending case (relating to graft charges)," said Ershad, chairman of Jatiya Party (JaPa) which has simultaneous presence in the cabinet and is made official opposition party in parliament.

The JaPa chief expressed his views that a section of the BNP leaders would not be willing to join the polls keeping Khaleda in jail while others might want to contest the election in the plea of survival of the party.

"In such a situation, many BNP leaders may try to join the Jatiya Party. Whatever the situation, it would be favourable for the Jatiya Party," Ershad expressed his confidence, while talking to newsmen in Lalmonirhat.

The former military ruler predicted that JaPa would be the major force in the next general elections and it would emerge as the determining factor for making political alignments.

Ershad, who relinquished power following popular upheaval in 1990, recalled that he himself and family members were sent to jail before the 1991 election.

"There is justice delivered by Allah. So, Khaleda Zia too will have to go to jail," he said.

The JaPa leader held an exchange-of-views meeting with his party leaders and journalists at the residence of JaPa co-chairman and his brother GM Quader.

Ershad mentioned that he did not contest the 2014 general elections, nor did his brother Quader.

"Currently Jatiya Party is in the government and also a part of the cabinet. Every conscious citizen knows why this situation arose," he said.

Claiming that Rangpur is the stronghold of JaPa, Ershad added that he would try to bargain for 22 parliamentary seats of the region while forming alliance with any party