Jatiya Party has been facing a serious crisis as the party has divided into two fractions, one led by party Chairman Husain Muhammad Ershad’s wife and Opposition Leader Rawshan Ershad and the other by his brother and party senior presidium member GM Quader.
For quite a long time, the two fractions had failed to agree on party decisions and subsequently this gave rise to internal feuds within the party ranks.
The Rawshan-led fraction includes Anisul Islam Mahmud, party Secretary General Zia Uddin Ahmed Bablu, Kazi Firoz Rashid and other leaders who took part in the 10th Parliamentary Elections held on January 5 this year.
The GM Quader fraction consists of former secretary general ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, Sunil Shuvo Roy, Bobi Hajjaj, Shohel Rana, Ershad’s nephew Asif Shahriar and other leaders of the party who withdrew their nomination papers as per a directive of the party chairman.
At the party’s last presidium members meeting, Rawshan and her panel members criticised the party chairman for making unilateral decisions and frequently changing them.
She also criticised pro-GM Quader leaders for carrying out activities against Rawshan and others.
Pointing out Sunil Shuvo Roy and Bobi Hajjaj, Rawshan came down heavily on HM Ershad for appointing some of the party’s paid employees as senior leaders.
“Such activities hamper the party’s image,” she said. She also questioned how an office employee can get the party ticket to participate in an election.
Saying that Sohel Rana had failed to serve the party as its election coordinator, she further added: “Rana has never participated in any election. He has no expertise in election coordination. Then why is he holding the post?”
Surprisingly, GM Quader was not present at the meeting. According to the party source, GM Quader had refrained from joining the meeting due to Rawshan’s presence.
And for the same reasons, Ruhul Amin Howlader and Sunil Shuvo Roy were not present at the meeting, claiming illnesses.
Ershad was reportedly furious at Rawshan’s comments and announced to his resignation from the post of party chairman, after the meeting. He also sent a letter to the party’s secretary general in this regard.
However, his decision was withdrawn within a short period of time.
When asked, Ershad said: “A presidium meeting has to be called if I am to resign. Why should I resign? I just announced my resignation in rage.”
Meanwhile, GM Kader has been losing his credibility with the ruling government.
Ershad had asked for GM Kader to be made MP from the Rangpur-6 constituency, however, that did not happen. The government also paid no heed to Ershad’s requested to make Kader a technocrat minister.
In this regard, GM Quader told the Dhaka Tribune: “My name was not on the good list of the government, so it is not possible for them to make me a minister of the present government.”
Regarding the conflict, Rawshan told the Dhaka Tribune: “Our party is the largest party in the country. It is normal to have some conflict with party leaders but it is nothing serious.”
