Raushan Ershad, chief patron of the Jatiya Party and the leader of the opposition in parliament, who had supposedly declared herself chairman of the party on Tuesday morning, has described the development as miscommunication.
On Tuesday evening, the Jatiya Party patron told the media that she is not the party leader but the chairman of the council preparatory committee.
She explained that her morning letter was intended to declare her role as the chairman of the council preparatory committee.
However, a miscommunication led to the media receiving a letter declaring her as the party chairman, she said.
"This was a mistake. I am informing everyone to amend the party press release and send it again. There should be no confusion regarding this," she added.
Earlier, a press release was issued on Tuesday morning claiming that Raushan Ershad had declared herself the chairperson of the party, with the current chief GM Quader on a visit to India.
The release read: "I, Begum Raushan Ershad, MP and co-founder of the Jatiya Party, hereby declare that, in consultation with senior party leaders and as a decision for the progression of the party, I have assumed the role of the party chairman."
The release further mentioned that a meeting was previously conducted with senior co-chairman, presidium members and parliamentary members of the party, and due to the expiry of the term of the committee, various lawsuits, irregularities and disorganization in party operations, the current chief, GM Quader, was suspended.
To overcome this crisis, chief patron Begum Raushan Ershad was given the responsibility of the party chairmanship until the 10th national council.
Confirming the matter, Kazi Mamunur Rashid, joint convener of the council preparatory committee, told the media that Raushan Ershad has taken over the responsibilities of the Jatiya Party's chairman following the opinions of the co-chairman, presidium members and parliamentary members.
“From now on, she is the legitimate chairman of the Jatiya Party," he added.
However, other party leaders of the party claimed they did not know about this.
Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu said the change in leadership is fake news.
“I have spoken to all the co-chairmen of the Jatiya Party who have been named in the fake statement. The co-chairs said they did not assist in or sign any such notification,” he said.
He claimed some ousted leaders of the Jatiya Party used Raushan Ershad’s name to tarnish her image.
The dispute between these two top leaders over the control of the party has been going on for a long time.
HM Ershad named his brother GM Quader acting chairman of the Jatiya Party on May 4, 2019.
Earlier, on March 23, 2019, he picked Raushan Ershad, senior co-chairman of the party, as the deputy leader of the opposition in parliament, relieving GM Quader of the post.
Four days after the death of HM Ershad, Quader was declared party chairman. On July 23 that year, Raushan along with seven MPs and two presidium members gave a statement refusing to accept GM Quader as party chairman.
While Ershad was alive, the party was divided into two groups: one was pro-Ershad and the other pro-Raushan. After Ershad’s death, his followers became known as pro-GM Quader.