Relief in Sylhet, Sunamganj inadequate, says Ershad

He was talking to newsmen at a hotel in Sylhet city on Friday after visiting some flood affected areas.

"The flood situation in Sylhet and Sunamganj is critical. I have noticed in newspapers that 50 paisa per head has so far been given as relief among the victims," Ershad said. JP Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader and other party leaders accompanied him during the visit.

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The former president said law and order situation is alarming in the country. Giving death threat has become a fashion nowadays. The people are telling about Bangla Bhai but the government is ignoring the issue, he added.

Asked about his party's future, Ershad said, "Jatiya party has good prospect because people are frustrated with performance of both Awami League and BNP governments". A process is on to unite Jatiya Party factions, he added.

He suggested introduction of 'provincial system of administration' because it is not possible for one Prime Minister to resolve problems of 15 crore people. He mentioned that the upazila system introduced during his rule has proved effective.

He told a questioner that Bangladesh would not have emerged had there been no Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.