Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad passed solitary moments at the Jatiya Sangsad yesterday, as none of his party lawmakers came closer to him; they were rather busy with talking to Rawshan Ershad, the new opposition leader.
Ershad sat on the second chair of the opposition bench next to his wife Rawshan, who had brought JaPa to the election violating the party chairman’s instruction to boycott it.
The JaPa chairman entered the House about 30 minutes before the session’s time at 6pm while Rawshan went to the office of the opposition leader on the third level of the parliament building.
Ershad remained seated inside the chamber.
JaPa ministers and MPs, including Anisul Islam Mahmud, Mujibul Haque, Tajul Islam Chowdhury, Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, Mashiur Rahman Ranga and Kazi Feroz Rashid went to the chamber of Rawshan for instructions before entering the House.
They headed for Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury’s office to congratulate her on getting re-elected as the speaker.
“We are happy that you have been elected from Rangpur like us,” said Rawshan, who hails and has been elected from a Mymensingh seat.
Mujibul Haque, state minister for labour and employment, said former Speaker Abdul Hamid came from Kishoreganj.
“The father-in-law’s village home of our honourable speaker is in Kishoreganj,” he said, holding the hands of Shirin’s husband who was present there.
The JaPa MPs presented the speaker with a bouquet. They entered the chamber minutes before the House started its business at 6pm.
Ruhul Amin Hawlader, JaPa secretary general, was the only person who mentioned Ershad while conveying his greetings to Shirin Sharmin on being re-elected as the speaker.
He said Ershad would guide and bless them so that they could discharge their duties as MPs.