Gaibandha: Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad on Wednesday said the upcoming union council polls are unlikely to be fair as ruling party are ‘set to grab’ most chairman posts flexing muscle.

Speaking at the district unit Jatiya Party’s council, he voiced deep concern over the growing incidents of child killing, saying the government has failed to ensure their security.

‘The Union Parishad election is nothing, but eyewash. What’s the point of joining the polls when ruling party men snatch results? The recently held municipal election was not neutral and fair ….the union council polls will also be the same,’ UNB quoted him as saying.

The former military dictator further said, ‘The government will occupy around 4,750 chairman posts, out of 5,000. People will hate the election system if such elections continue to be held.’

The biennial council session of Gaibandha Jatiya Party was held at Islamia High School ground.

Ershad, also the special envoy to the Prime Minister, said the government’s image will be badly dented if the UP polls are marred with vote rigging and manipulation like municipal polls.

About the child killing, he said it is the responsibility of the government to ensure security of the lives and assets of the country’s all people, but the government cannot ensure the security of children. ‘The incidents of child killing are taking place almost every day.’

The Jatiya Party leader observed that many jobless youths are getting addicted to drugs out of frustration.

Ershad said no party except Jatiya will be able to ensure peace, employment and security of the country’s people.