Dhaka: Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, who returned home from Singapore only three days before the election, on Thursday announced to step aside from the election race in Dhaka-17 constituency.

He also asked his party candidates who are contesting the election independently outside the Awami League-led Grand Alliance to quit the election race, too, reports the UNB.

Ershad came up with the announcement and order while speaking at a press conference at his Baridhara residence.

As many as 29 Jatiya Party contenders are participating in the election under the Grand Alliance and the party also fielded some 140 candidates to run independently.

‘The remaining candidates other than the Grand Alliance-nominated ones must step aside. All will have to work together to make the Grand Alliance victorious,’ Ershad said, adding that they had filed the independent candidates to resist Sheaf of Paddy.

He also said, ‘My condition is not good. I’ve returned home for my sister Sheikh Hasina and stepped aside from the Dhaka-17 constituency. I’ve lent my support to Awami League candidate actor Farooque.’

Akbar Hossain Pathan Farooque is running with ‘Boat’ symbol in the parliamentary seat.

Describing the Grand Alliance government as the role model of development, the Jatiya Party chief predicted that it will win the next election, too as the history of BNP’s past is not good.

Expressing his satisfaction over the existing election atmosphere, he said there will be a free and fair election in the country on December 30.