Drama was the order of the day for the Jatiya Party yesterday after the party’s parliamentary committee rejected Chairman HM Ershad’s reshuffle of the party leadership.
In a hurriedly-called press briefing around 2pm yesterday, the dictator-turned-democrat appointed ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader general secretary, relieving Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu of the post.
On Sunday Ershad made younger brother GM Quader co-chairman of the party. Observers say the move signalled Quader as Ershad’s favoured political successor.
Hours after announcing Bablu’s dismissal and Hawlader’s appointment, the party’s parliamentary committee, headed by wife Rawshan Ershad, held a meeting at the parliament building, attended by the party chairman and all 40 of its lawmakers.
Before the meeting’s conclusion, Ershad and Hawlader were seen leaving.
Opposition Chief Whip Tajul Islam later told journalists that the parliamentary committee had rejected both of Ershad’s decisions.
“All of the members of the parliamentary committee have rejected the decisions made by the chairman. We cannot accept them,” the opposition chief whip told journalists shortly after the meeting.
In what appeared to be a conciliatory note, Tajul added: “It was suggested that the decisions be taken after the presidium and parliamentary party meetings are held. The chairman said the decision would be taken after consulting with the leader of the opposition.”
Unfazed by the rebuff of the parliamentary committee, the former army strongman is sticking to his guns.
“I will stick by my word until death,” he said, in a dramatic declaration to journalists. “The decision will not be changed.”
The opening act
At yesterday afternoon’s press briefing at the party’s Banani office at which Ershad first announced Bablu’s dismissal, journalists quizzed him about whether the party was in danger of falling apart.
“Impossible. No one can split the party,” he told reporters.
“When I made Anisul Islam Mahmud and Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu acting chairman and general secretary, respectively, no one raised any questions.
“Why are questions being raised now? Bablu failed to hold a council during his time as secretary general. He failed to carry out his role. So I am relieving him of the post and appointing Ruhul Amin Hawlader as general secretary for the sake of the party,” Ershad said.
At the press briefing, Ershad had defended the reshuffle as being within the purview of his role.
About naming GM Quader co-chairman of the party, he said his brother “will do as I say.”
But the day after Quader’s appointment, Bablu proclaimed Rawshan Ershad as the party’s acting chairperson.
Ershad retaliated by denouncing Bablu’s declaration as “illegal.”
The cut and thrust of settling the party leadership ahead of its overdue council appears to be behind yesterday’s infighting, with the Ershads on opposite sides of the battle lines.
Ershad, referring to his wife, assured journalists yesterday: “I have no quarrel with Rawshan Ershad.”
Rehearsals of rebellion
Since its establishment in January 1986, the Jatiya Party has split off into five groups. Four are currently registered with the Election Commission.
The party split for the first time when Anwar Hossain Monju left the party in 1996. He now heads Jatiya Party (Monju).
In 2001, senior Jatiya Party leader Naziur Rahman Monju left the party and joined the BNP-led alliance, forming the Bangladesh Jatiya Party. Andaleeve Rahman Partha currently leads the party.
This party also split after MA Matin left to form the Bangladesh Jatiya Party (Matin).
In the latest division in 2013, Kazi Zafar Ahmed left Ershad’s Jatiya Party to join the BNP-led alliance under his new party, Jatiya Party (Zafar).
Centring the January 5 national elections, the party faced another severe crisis as the top leadership split into two camps – Ershad and Rawshan.
