Democracy in exile

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad yesterday said democracy had been "exiled" from the country as there was no freedom of expression now.

Also a special envoy to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he made the remarks while addressing the two-yearly council of JP's Munshiganj unit at the district Shilpakala Academy.

"There is no democracy in the country at present... Democracy exists in speeches only, not in reality," said the former military dictator. There is no rule of law as well, he added.

Ershad said corruption was taking place everywhere. "It needs Tk 10 lakh to get a job in the police force and Tk 5 lakh to become a schoolteacher."

"In my tenure, we didn't give jobs in exchange for bribe. We gave jobs considering the applicant's quality and performance." Ershad said public universities were now swamped with firearms.

He added women were not safe at present even in daytime. About JP's organisational condition, Ershad said, "The party will get new leadership as we have grown old... Senior leaders will act as party advisers."