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GM Quader- Raushan rift plagues JP


Published : 20 Oct 2022 09:50 PM | Updated : 20 Oct 2022 09:50 PM

The main opposition in the National Parliament, Jatiya Party, is now in a shambles due to conflict over the leadership and control of the party.

The situation is worsening day by day as the conflict between opposition leader in the National Parliament Raushan Ershad, who is the chief patron of the party and also the first wife of party's founder late HM Ershad, and the party chairman GM Quader, the younger brother of Ershad, reaches now the peak.

The party, which earlier experienced splits several times in the past, has almost become divided in two more parts. 

Party chairman GM Quader is trying to become the opposition leader in the parliament by removing Raushan Ershad. In this regard he along with some other lawmakers of the party sent a letter to the Speaker of the National Parliament on September 1. 

GM Quader sent the letter to the National Parliament Speaker when Raushan Ershad is undergoing treatment at Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok. She is expected to return to the country on October 28 and join the Parliament session on October 30.

Besides, there is a possibility of a change in the position of Chief Whip of the Opposition in the Parliament in the upcoming session. Jatiya Party may nominate another member of parliament for this position after expelling the current opposition chief whip Masiur Rahman Ranga from the party. 

According to the party sources, GM Quader has expelled several leaders of the party who have support for Raushan Ershad.  

On the other hand, Raushan Ershad has called the council of the party on November 26 without informing GM Quader. 

Being the chief patron of Jatiya Party, Raushan Ershad also issued a letter to party chairman Quader to withdraw all the expulsions.  

Not only that, Raushan Ershad has taken a direct stand against GM Quader on the question of anti-government activities.

Although GM Quader is opposing the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the next National Parliament election, Raushan Ershad has welcomed the decision of the government to use EVMs.

In a video message from Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok, Raushan Ershad said that the Jatiya Party will take part in the next parliament election under the Shekh Hasina government in power and she also spoke in favour of the EVM use.   

The recorded video message was aired at a press conference organized by some of Raushan's followers under the banner of 'Jatiya Party' at a hotel in the capital's Purana Paltan. The video message was recorded late last month.

According to JP sources, Raushan's recent action, supported by a group of JP leaders who are loyal to her, might split the opposition party unless the two sides can reach an agreement.

In the letterhead of the opposition leader's office, Raushan called upon the party leaders and activists to make the party strong and united.

Addressing the party's young and new generation leaders and activists, Raushan called upon the party's tested leaders who have left the organisation in the past to return to the Jatiya Party . The letter was signed by Golam Moshi, her political secretary.