Jatiya Party leaders in Rangpur have termed Raushan Ershad’s call for a party council on November 26 as illegal.
At the same time the leaders welcomed JP Chairman GM Quader’s move to remove Raushan from her position as leader of the opposition in Parliament.
It may be mentioned that on Wednesday Raushan Ershad called for the Jatiya Party's 10th council at the Institution of Engineers in Dhaka.
Raushan, who is currently under treatment in Bangkok, has called the council at a time when the tussle over the leadership of the party between her and JP Chairman GM Quader has been growing in recent months.
Following her move, the parliamentary group of the Jatiya Party on Thursday asked Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in writing to recognise JP chairman GM Quader as leader of the opposition in parliament.
Senior party leaders in Rangpur say that Raushan’s attempt to hurriedly hold a council is part of a deep conspiracy to keep GM Quader away from party politics.
Family members of the late president and JaPa founder General HM Ershad also voiced their concerns over Raushan’s recent move. Party leaders and family members raised questions on Raushan’s motive and motivation behind such a move. They say that party leaders are fond of HM Ershad’s brother, GM Quader.
Rangpur JaPa General Secretary Abdur Razzak told Dhaka Tribune that the party follows GM Quader’s instructions and not Raushan Ershad’s.
Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa, president of Rangpur City unit of the party and the incumbent city mayor, said that the party is being run as per its constitution. He said that an advisor cannot make party decisions on his or her own will without following the constitution.
SM Yasir, general secretary of Rangpur City unit of the party, urged party members not to get distracted by such moves by an advisor who has no authority to summon a council.
HM Ershad’s nephew and also a former JaPa member of parliament from Rangpur-1, Asif Shahriar, also voiced his support for GM Quader.