Until yesterday, the faction of Jatiya Party (JaPa) led by HM Ershad was yet to finalise the candidates for reserved seat women MPs in 10th parliament because of lack of coordination between the party chief and his wife Rawshan Ershad – also the opposition leader.
As many as 96 aspirants have bought nomination papers and they were supposed to be interviewed on January 20. But Ershad did not take the interviews.
Later the party’s secretary general told the media that Ershad and his wife would select the women MPs within two days.
The party is supposed to choose six women candidates and submit the list to the Election Commission within February 10.
Party sources said there were differences of opinions between Ershad and Rawshan about choosing the women MPs.
“Ershad does not want them who have been picked up by Rawshan. The opposition leader wants the women who support her as MPs; on the other hand, Ershad wants those who are dedicated for the party,” said a leader wishing anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to media.
Meanwhile, many aspirants alleged that the party was selecting candidates on the basis of financial benefits.
Refuting the allegation, Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader told the Dhaka Tribune that they were selecting the dedicated leaders of the party.
Of the aspirants, 10 are forerunners are Ershad’s sister Marina Ershad; his brother GM Quader’s wife Sharifa Quader; Presidium member Morshad Murad Ibrahim’s wife Mahjabin Morshad; Ershad’s Press And Political Secretary Sunil Shubho Roy’s wife Kanika Roy; Brig (retd) Giasuddin Chowdhury’s wife Mahmuda Chowdhury; Ershad’s friend and businessmen Md Shahjahan’s wife Sanjida Nahida Idris Nur; Saydabad Pir’s daughter Shahida Rahman; and party’s women affiliate President Nazma Akther.
On the other hand, Kazi Zafar led Jatiya Party’s Secretary General Golam Mochi is likely to joint as a Rawshan’s political secretary.
Sources said Mochi recently told Kazi Zafar that he wanted to leave the party. Mochi and Rawshan jointly have many businesses.
JaPa Presidium member Ahsan Habib Linkan on Saturday joined the Kazi Zafar-led faction. He yesterday sent the resignation letter to Ershad.
In the letter, he wrote: “The Jatiya Party is clearly divided over two factions as HM Ershad changes his mind frequently. One of factions is led by Kazi Zafar, while another by Rawshan Ershad.”
In this situation, he thinks that the Kazi Zafar-led by faction can uphold the party’s ideology.