DHAKA: The former president and Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad urged people to observe November 10 as ‘Democracy Day’.

He made the assertion in a statement Sunday afternoon.

According to the statement, Ershad, who is also a special envoy to the Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina, claimed that he restored democracy in the country on November 10, 1986 by making an announcement of the withdrawal of martial law.

In the speech as president, he made the historic change at the national parliament at that time, the statement added.

‘On the day in 1986, I declared the withdrawal of martial law ending the military rule and the country then embarked on its journey towards democracy,’ Ershad said in the statement.

According to the former president, the foundation of democracy was established in 1986 and none can destroy it.

Since then, the JP chief has regularly been greeting the democracy loving people on the day, said the statement.

‘The main objectives for our liberation war were getting independence and establishing democracy,’ he said.

‘Our desired independence remained unharmed but the democracy is being obstructed, he added.

The PM special envoy said that democracy is not only a right of casting votes but also it is needed in every sphere of life.

The accountability to people should be ensured from the grassroots to the highest level of the government.

The key principle of ‘Democracy Day’ is to establish democracy, he added.

BDST: 2033 HRS, NOV 09, 2014