Election 2008

Vote for grand alliance to root out corruption, militancy

Ershad tells Ctg rally held for Anisul

21 December 2008, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Ctg

The election rally held yesterday in favour of Awami League-led grand alliance candidate Jatiya Party leader Anisul Islam Mahmud at Hathazari bus termina in Chittagong while Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad greets Chittagong Mayor Mohiuddin Chowdhury at the election rally yesterday(inset).Photo: STAR

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad yesterday urged people to vote for grand alliance candidates to help free the country from 'corruption, militancy, looting and poverty'. “The people now want a country free from corruption and terrorism. The grand alliance was formed with the noble objective of ridding the nation of a deep crisis as people want change in politics,” he said at a large rally at Hathhzari Bus Stand in support of grand alliance candidate barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud. JP (Ershad) leader Anisul Islam Mahmud is contesting from Chittagong-4 (Hathazari). Anisul Islam Mahmud and Morshed Murad Ibrahim are the two JP (Ershad) leaders contesting under the banner of AL-led grand alliance in Chittagong district. Recalling the role of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for the creation of independent Bangladesh, the JP chief said, “Bangbandhu had a dream for Sonar Bangla. I also dreamt for Notun Bangla. Now time has come to materialise both the dreams.” Urging the AL supporters to cast vote for 'plough' symbol in Hathazari, Ershad said both 'boat' and 'plough' symbols stand for the same interest -- making the country a developed one. Grand alliance candidate Anisul made different pledges including reconstruction of flood-protection embankment, prevention of erosion by River Halda, creation of huge employment through industrialisation and setting up technical training institutes. Chaired by JP upazila unit leader Principal Mohammad Ismail, the rally was addressed, among others, by Chittagong City Corporation Mayor and Awami League city unit President ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, former education minister Zia Uddin Bablu and Awami League leader advocate Ibrahim Hossain Babul. On his way back to the city Ershad also addressed four street rallies two at Fateyabad and Oxygen intersection under Chittagong-4 constituency and two at Shershah and Muradpur under Chittagong-9 constituency. Earlier in the morning, the JP chief addressed three street rallies in the city's Halishahar Nayabazar, Dewanhat and East Nasirabad areas under Chittagong-9 (Double Mooring) constituency in support of grand alliance candidate Morshed Murad Ibrahim, also a JP leader. Terming contest of AL leader Dr Afsarul Amin in the same seat with 'boat' symbol as 'unfortunate', Ershad said, “Morshed Murad is the legal candidate of the grand alliance. So, it is expected that boat and plough together fight against the opponents.” About candidates from both AL and JP, two key partners of the grand alliance, in eight constituencies throughout the country, the JP chief at a press conference in the afternoon said the matter would be resolved through discussion with AL central body.