The two feuding groups of Jatiya Party have finally reached a consensus to keep the party united accepting GM Quader as its Chairman and Raushon Ershad the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. Amid conflicts over the post of party chairman and leader of the opposition, the leaders loyal to both GM Quader and Raushon had a meeting at a Baridhara Club on Saturday night and took some decisions to avoid the inevitable split in the party. Party secretary general Moshiur Rahman Ranga came up with the decisions of the meeting at a press briefing at party chairman’s Gulshan office on Sunday. Party is now united as there’s now no division in it. We had a controversy over the post of our party chairman, and we resolved it yesterday (Saturday). GM Quader will perform the responsibility of Chairman as per the directive of our late founder chairman HM Ershad,” Ranga said. Besides, he said, Raushon Ershad will discharge the duties of Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. The Jatiya Party leader said their meeting also discussed the possible party candidate for the Rangpur-3 by-polls and gave the party chairman and secretary general responsibility to finalize the candidate. He said they may announce the name of their party candidate by today or tomorrow. Ranga said their party averted a split following the meeting of its some top leaders on Saturday night. He said there are some leaders in every party who want to catch fish in troubled waters, and create divisions to make their personal gains. “But we’ve been able to remove the division and we’re now united.” Ranga also said their party’s council will be held on November 30 as per the announcement of party chief GM Quader. A day after GM Quader’s letter for officially recognizing him as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Jatiya Party Senior Co-Chairman Raushon Ershad on Wednesday wrote to the Speaker not to accept it, exposing a fresh conflict in the party. In the letter sent to Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Raushon said GM Quader sent the letter without any decision at the party forum and meeting of the Jatiya Party Parliamentary Party. On Thursday, a group of Jatiya Party leaders announced HM Ershad’s widow Raushon Ershad its chairperson, putting the party on the verge of a split. The party leaders, Loyal to Raushon, also claimed that GM Quader was announced Jatiya Party chairman violating the party constitution. In a counter-press conference, GM Quader warned of taking action in line with the party constitution against those party leaders who announced his sister-in-law Raushon Ershad its chairman. On July 18, party secretary general Moshiur Rahman Ranga formally announced HM Ershad’s younger brother GM Quader as Jatiya Party chairman at a press conference. Before his death, Ranga said, Ershad through an organisational instruction had announced that GM Quader would be the party chairman in his absence. “So, we’ve decided that GM Quader is our party chairman. Four days later, Raushon in a statement said GM Quader cannot be declared the chairman of the party without any decision at the party forum. Ershad appointed his brother Quader acting chairman and his heir to the party before his death on July 14. Source: UNB AH

Rahgir Al Mahi Saad, son of late Hussain Muhammad Ershad has got the nomination from Jatiya Party (JP) in the by-election of Rangpur-3 constituency. Party Chairman GM Quader and Secretary General Mashiur Rahman Ranga took the decision in this regard at Jatiya Party’s Banani office on Sunday noon. Several presidium members confirmed the matter. Earlier, on Tuesday Saad Ershad collected party nomination papers from Banani party office. The voting will take place in the Rangpur-3 constituency on October 5 following the death of HM Ershad. Ershad was elected Member of Parliament from this constituency for five consecutive terms from 1986. AH

Jatiya Party presidium member Kazi Firoz Rashid said, according to the party charter GM Quader is the Chairman of the party. Declaring Raushan Ershad as chairman is illegal. He said these while briefing the newsmen during joint meeting of the party presidium members and parliament members at party chairman’s Banani office in the capital on Friday evening. Kazi Firoz Rashid said, as the party chairmen HM Ershad appointed opposition leader, deputy leader and chief whip after issuing letters. It is the jurisdiction of the party chairman. HM Ershad never held parliamentary committee meeting. Besides it is not mentioned in the charter about holding parliamentary committee meeting. Jatiya Party Chairman Golam Mohammad (GM) Quader will be the opposition leader. In the presidium meeting all the members present supported GM Quader to be the opposition leader. There is nothing to be misguided. The joint meeting started at 5 pm presided over by Jatiya Party Chairman Golam Mohammad Quader. At that time interviews of the nomination seekers were taken for the upcoming Rangpur-3 by-election. Kazi Firoz Rashid, Zia Uddin Ahmed Bablu, Syed Abu Hosen Babla, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Golam Kibria Tipu and others were present in the presidium and parliamentary members’ joint meeting. AH 

Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader warned of taking action in line with the party constitution against those party leaders who announced his sister-in-law Raushon Ershad its chairman. At a press conference at party chairman’s Banani office, he also claimed that his late brother HM Ershad gave him the charge of party chairman as per its constitution which was supported by most Jatiya Party presidium members. Reports UNB. Describing Raushon as like his mother, the Jatiya Party chief hoped that she will value that respect. “One can’t become a king by declaring himself king. To be a king, there must be a kingdom and subjects. So, it matters little to Jatiya Party who announces what. We’ll take organisational action against those who violate party discipline,” GM Quader said. He also said Jatiya Party is united and will remain so in the days to come.  “About unity, the Jatiya Party won’t face any problem.” As per Article 20/1/A of Jatiya Party charter, GM Quader said their party founding chairman HM Ershad made him party chief in his absence through an organisational instruction. “He (Ershad) also told journalists that I’ll be the party chairman in his absence.” He said the party presidium members at the first meeting after the death of Ershad greeted him for taking the charge of party chairman. GM Quader said he sent a letter to the Speaker for appointing him as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament as 15 party MPs gave consent to it. He claimed that he became the chairman of the party and sent the letter to the Speaker with opinions of party leaders as per its constitution. “Our constitution was not violated in this regard.” Replying to a question, Quader said their party Secretary General Moshiur Rahman Ranga is with the mainstream of the party under his leadership. He said Ranga could not join the press conference as he was supposed to join an important meeting. Earlier in the day, a group of Jatiya Party leaders announced HM Ershad’s widow Raushon Ershad its chairperson, putting the party on the verge of a split. Amid their growing conflict over the appointment of Leader of the Opposition in Parliament from the party’s top two leaders, Party’s senior presidium member Anisul Islam Mahmud at a press conference at Raushon’s Gulshan residence came up with such announcement in her presence. “Raushon Ershad will discharge the responsibilities of Jatiya Party Chairman. A permanent chairman of the party will be appointed in a democratic manner through a council by the next six months,” he said. Anisul alleged GM Quader was announced Jatiya Party chairman violating the party constitution. He, however, said Raushon will evaluate Quader as the party co-chairman. The Jatiya Party senior leader said Moshiur Rahman Ranga will remain the party’s secretary general. Speaking at the press meet, Raushon said party leaders are worried over what happening within the party. “They also fear whether the party is going to face a split as in the past. But I want to run the party together with all.” She also urged those left the party at different times to rejoin Jatiya Party which was founded by her late husband Ershad. On July 18, party secretary general Moshiur Rahman Ranga formally announced HM Ershad’s younger brother GM Quader as Jatiya Party chairman at a press conference. Before his death, Ranga said, Ershad through an organisational instruction had announced that GM Quader would be the party chairman in his absence. “So, we’ve decided that GM Quader is our party chairman. Four days later, Raushon in a statement said GM Quader cannot be declared the chairman of the party without any decision at the party forum. Ershad appointed his brother Quader acting chairman and his heir to the party before his death on July 14. Jatiya Party’s division came to the spotlight once again as Jatiya Party Senior Co-Chairman Raushon Ershad on Wednesday wrote to the Speaker not to accept the letter of GM Quader sent to her on Tuesday for officially recognising him as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. In the letter sent to Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Raushon said GM Quader sent the letter without any decision at the party forum and meeting of the Jatiya Party Parliamentary Party. Before sending the letter, some Jatiya Party leaders, including Anisul Islam Mahmud, Mujibul Haque Chunnu and Fakhrul Imam, had a long meeting with Raushon at her Gulshan residence. Jatiya Party joined the 11th general election as the key partner of the Grand Alliance and bagged 22 seats. After the election, the party decided to play the role of opposition in parliament. Jatiya Party sources said most party MPs and presidium members are backing GM Quader while some MPs and presidium members loyal to Raushon want her to play the role of party chairperson and the opposition leader. AH

Jatiya Party Chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad is going to be shifted to Singapore. For better treatment his family and party have taken the decision. Jatiya Party (JP) secretary general Mashiur Rahman Ranga delivered the information at a press conference at its Banani office on Wednesday afternoon. He said, an expert team will examine the physical condition of Ershad. If they allow then he will be shifted to Singapore after calling an air ambulance. Earlier in the noon at a press conference Ershad’s younger brother and JP acting Chairman GM Kader said that Ershad’s condition was developing. JP Chairman HM Ershad is suffering from hemoglobin problem in blood, besides there are lung and kidney complexities. GM Kader said, the physical condition of Ershad is developing. His lung infection is decreasing. Breathing is going to be normal and kidneys are functioning at the moment. AH  

The physical condition of Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman and opposition leader in the parliament Hussain Muhammad Ershad is stable. He is being given oxygen support. The information was delivered by party’s acting chairman and Ershad’s brother GM Kader after holding a press conference on behalf of the party at the party’s Banani office on Sunday evening. GM Kader said, we are satisfied over the treatment but the situation has not turned into that stage to send him abroad. Earlier the former army ruler was kept at the Critical Care Unit (CCU) of Combined Military Hospital (CMH). He was admitted in the hospital on Wednesday. Party sources said that Ershad’s condition deteriorated suddenly from Sunday afternoon. The over 90 years old former president is suffering from different complexities. He obtained treatment from abroad before December 30 election last year. After that Ershad elected his younger brother GM Kader as his successor in the party.   Mentionable, army chief Ershad took the state power by imposing martial law on March 24, 1982. Like Ziaur Rahman he also formed his political party ‘Jatiya Party’ while remaining in power. He was forced to leave power due to mass upsurge on December 6, 1990. AH  

Jatiya Party Chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad was admitted to hospital following kidney and hemoglobin problem. He was admitted to Critical Care Unit of Combined Military Hospital (CMH) of Dhaka on Wednesday morning. Younger brother of Ershad and Acting Chairman of Jatiya Party GM Kader confirmed the information. He said, recently Ershad returned home after taking treatment from Singapore and was taking further treatment from CMH. But personal officials of Ershad said that he regularly visits CMH for routine checkup. When he feels bad he goes to CMH. Physicians before the eleventh national parliament election informed that hemoglobin production stopped in Ershad’s blood. AH