Former president and Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman Alhaj Hussein Muhammad Ershad, MP, Monday called upon his party workers to work together in strengthening JP at the grassroots to come to power through winning next general elections.

He was addressing Rangpur Divisional Representatives' Conference 2013 organised by JP at Police Community Hall here as the chief guest with President of its Rangpur district unit Alhaj Moshiur Rahman Ranga in the chair.

JP Presidium Member, Former Minister and its Kurigram district unit President Tazul Islam Chowdhury, its Rangpur district unit General Secretary Abul Masud Chowdhury Nantu, city unit General Secretary Advocate Salahuddin Kaderi, President of Panchagarh district Mohila JP Sayma Shahnaz Pinkie and Vice- president of Nilphamari district JP Rashidul Islam spoke.

"I was a soldier. I know better when to take which decision. I cannot take sudden decision of leaving the grand alliance under such situation when the step might benefit the other alliance or party and anybody else," Ershad said.

"JP will never become a ladder again for the any alliance to assist that in ascending to power when it will gain complete ability to go to power through nominating 300 efficient and eligible candidates to win the general elections," he added.

Criticizing the present culture of money and muscle to win elections, Ershad called upon all concerned to come out of such trend to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections for establishing smooth and continuous democratic process in the country.

"We will not nominate JP candidates for the upcoming parliamentary elections sitting at Dhaka, but, will go to the grassroots levels for selecting party candidates through taking opinions of the grassroots leaders and activities," he said.

Ershad said that his party will ensure women empowerment through raising women leadership up to 30 percent in JP by 2020 and nominate more eligible female candidates in the upcoming parliamentary elections in the process.

Ends/AMA/15/07/13