Ershad not voting on election day

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad of the Rangpur 3 constituency (Sadar) is not going to vote on Sunday the election day.

The senior party leaders confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune that he will stay in Dhaka on the polling day.

After hearing the news, many speculations have arisen among the JaPa leaders and activists of Rangpur.

Ershad did not even come to submit nomination papers for the Rangpur 3 constituency, said JaPa sources. 

JaPa Secretary General Mashiur Rahman Ranga, submitted his nomination paper on Ershad's behalf along with the Rangpur City Mayor and JaPa metropolitan unit President Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa and other leaders, they said.

While Ershad was in Singapore receiving medical treatment, his election campaign in Rangpur 3 was conducted by JaPa activists under the leadership of the JaPa metropolitan President Mostafa.

At that time there was rumour that Ershad will not return to the country before the election. But all the speculations ended when he arrived on Wednesday.

When contacted, Ershad's election agent JaPa's metropolitan unit's general secretary SM Yasser Ahammed said: "There is no news regarding Ershad coming to Rangpur to vote on election day."

While Ershad’s posters and banners adorn the constituency’s streets, there has been a lack of communication on behalf of the "plough" symbol, according to some locals.

Several voters in Chilmon said that representatives of plough had not visited their area to seek votes.

“Ershad does not give much time to this area. It has created a distance between him and the people; the reason why the amount of votes he receives this time may not be as high as in the previous elections," said a local. 

However, Mayor Mostafa claims that Ershad’s absence from the area will not have an impact on the outcome of the election.

“Sir [Ershad] is not here but the people of Rangpur love him. At one point, he contested the elections from jail and still won,” he said.

Former President Ershad won four out of the last five election races for the seat since 1991. In his absence, his brother GM Quader won the seat in the 2001 election.