Leader of the Opposition Rawshan Ershad in her first speech in parliament recognised the contribution of BNP founder Gen Ziaur Rahman but did not refer to the role of her husband and party Chairman HM Ershad who was sitting next to her.
She did not even mention the name of Ershad in her maiden speech as the opposition leader.
Thanking Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for holding the January 5 poll that made her the opposition leader, Rawshan criticised the politics of “no consensus” among the parties and said her party would extend all-out support to the government.
Speaking in an unscheduled discussion on greeting Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury on her re-election, the former first lady said the Jatiya Party’s role as the opposition was a “new concept” like that of the non-party caretaker government.
The opposition Jatiya Party has three representatives in the government.
In her maiden speech in parliament, Rawshan praised Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for leading the country’s independence.
“BNP’s founder martyr president Ziaur Rahman has huge contribution to the country; I pay homage to him,” she added.
The new opposition leader raised the issue of her party’s dual role as opposition and part of the government.
“I would say it is a new concept...We have ministers, but we will play the role an opposition should play. I do not know to what extent it will succeed, but we do not lack cordiality.”
