The decision made by Jatiya Party on Thursday was full and final and there is no return from it, the party’s Chairman Hussein Muhammad Ershad has said.
“I have given my word, I will keep it. There is no backtracking from this point - other than to commit suicide,” he told journalists late at night.
The Baridhara residence of the former military ruler was buzzing with activities on Thursday. Jatiya Party ministers resigned to Ershad under his command.
The party’s Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Howladar said four ministers from their party have submitted resignations to their chairman.
But, later in the night, Ershad himself said that all but two of his ministers at the polls-time cabinet had handed over their resignations to him.
Resignation of these ministers will be handed over to President Abdul Hamid, Ershad said. “I wil hand over the letters.”
“Our ministers took the oath from the president, that is why we will submit our resignation to the president, not the prime minister,” he said.
According to him, the decision was taken following suggestions of his wife, and Health Minister, Rowshan Ershad.
Constitutional procedures state that the resignation of a minister has to reach the president through the hands of a prime minister.
Ershad said he had spoken to two of his ministers, Anisul Islam Mahmud and Ziauddin Bablu, “they will hand over their resignations tomorrow (Friday) morning.”
With regard to Rowshan, he said: “She is my wife. You can assume that her resignation letter is with me.”
There was a row at Ershad’s Baridhara house, with Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud at its centre.
Some supporters had abused him, characterising him as subservient to the Awami League. Ershad said. “If anyone leaves the party now it will be wrong. I am hurt by this.”
There was another incident where law enforcers allegedly tried to detain Jamuna Group Chairman Nurul Islam Babul. However the law enforcers refuted such claims.
“I do not know what is happening in the minds of the government. They think that I am a kid of class five, and that I take lessons from Nurul Islam Babul,” Ershad said.
“Salma Islam, the junior minister for youth and sports, is his wife. He can come here anytime,” Ershad asserted; justifying the presence of Bulbul at his house.
Ershad made headlines in the last few days, after announcing his withdrawal from the upcoming 10th general elections -having only recently accepted positions in the polls-time cabinet.
Law enforcers were deployed around the house of Ershad after his withdrawal from polls. On Wednesday, Ershad warned of suicide if "anyone tried to outwit him."
His decision gained a welcome of the main opposition BNP, who have been waging movement, demanding a neutral government to oversee the elections.
But Ershad is yet to be trusted, BNP had said.
On the other hand, Awami League are moving ahead with the 10th general elections. The elections are slated for January 5.