Raushan Ershad, the leader of the opposition in the parliament, on Sunday asked Jatiya Party President HM Ershad to take decisions democratically as the party was not a company of any individual.
Raushan, who is also Ershad's wife and a presidium member of the Jatiya Party, further raised questions about the leaders who surround Ershad.
“I will request party chairman not to take decisions unilaterally. Decisions should have to be taken considering the party workers and following the party charter. This party is not a company of any individual, rather a party of leaders, activists and supporters,” she told journalists at a press briefing at the parliament’s media centre.
The press briefing was scheduled to start at 2pm, but started one and half hours later as Raushan was late in arriving the programme venue.
Remembering the contributions of the former leaders of the party, Raushan said: “Once Mr Moudud [Ahmed], Shah Moazzem, Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, Anwar Hossain Monju and other dedicated leaders were beside our party chairman. But who are now behind the Jatiya Party chairman?”
Raushan also urged the party leaders, who have left the party, to return.
Moudud Ahmed is now a standing committee member of the BNP, Shah Moazzem Hossain is a vice-chairman of the BNP, Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury died as a member of Awami League’s advisory council and Anwar Hossain Monju is the chairman of Jatiya Party (Monju) and the incumbent environment and forest minister.
“We were not able to formulate any specific political strategy that would attract new leaders to come to the party. Jatiya Party has lost its pride, honour and glorious tradition.” Raushan said.
“At this age, I do not have any personal demand. I just do not want to see any lack of coordination in Jatiya Party. My only wish is the leaders return to the party. Those who are inactive and left Jatiya Party please come back again. We are eagerly waiting for you.”
Presenting a sorry state of the party, Raushan said if the decisions were taken democratically and talking with the grassroots leaders and presidium members, then the party would get good results in the elections.
“We could not elect any mayor or chairman in the elections. We could not do good in union parishad elections too. Jatiya Party is getting weaker day by day.”
Demanding the scrapping of the party charter’s article 39, Raushan said: “If the party is not democratic then how will the country be democratic. Democracy should be practised within the party. A vacuum has created in Jatiya Party now.”
