"If I form coalition with either the BNP or the Awami League, I have to take responsibility of their failures as both the parties have failed to run the country properly," Ershad said at a party rally in the Paltan Maidan in the capital.

Neither the BNP-led coalition nor the AL-led coalition responded to his 12-point proposal regarding joining any of them, the former president said.

People have greatly responded to their proposals, he said.

Ershad observed that the country is heading towards confrontation, as the AL has remained stuck to their no election stance until their proposed reforms are carried out while the BNP-led alliance government declared that they would not meet the opposition's demand.

The JP chief placed 16 pledges to be fulfilled if his party is voted to power. The pledges include separation of judiciary, forming independent Election Commission, bringing electoral reforms to ensure free and fair elections, giving facilities for the farmers, formation of complete upazila system with its chairman's power to run, forming strict laws to check criminal activities and corruption, providing gas facilities, and setting up industries for the people of northern areas.

The present government has completely failed to run the country as the people are witnessing severe fuel, fertiliser, seed, water and gas crisis, Ershad said, adding that the government has been playing double standard regarding Bangla Bhai and Shiakh Abdur Rahman.

During the JP rule, they carpeted 10,000 kilometre roads, constructed 15,000 bridges and culverts and developed the agriculture sector, he said.

Severely criticising both the BNP and the AL for their large-scale corruption, misrule, mismanagement and confrontational politics, the former president urged the people to come under the umbrella of JP to snatch victory in the upcoming election.

JP Presidium Member Rawshan Ershad said the countrymen witnessed good governance, infrastructure developments, good law and order situation during the Ershad regime.

The country's democracy for which the JP had to quit power is now at stake due to bad politics of the two big parties, she said.

Former prime minister and JP leader Kazi Zafar, Secretary General Ruhul Amin Hawlader, JP leaders Kazi Firoz Rashid, Nasim Osman, Abu Hossain Babla, Tazul Islam Chowdhury, Karim Uddin Bharasha, Prof Delwar Hossain Khan, Abu Sufian, Golam Kibria Tipu, Sheikh Sawkat Hossain Nilu, Mostafa Zaman Haider, Mainuddin Bhuiyan, Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, Fakir Ashraf, Moshiur Rahman Ranga, among others, spoke at the rally.