The opposition leader of the National Parliament is likely to be replaced soon, according to sources concerned.
Besides, the main opposition party in the National Parliament--Jatiya Party--has already nominated one of its lawmakers as a new chief whip of the opposition party.
Sources said Jatiya Party chairman GM Quader is going to replace Raushan Ershad as the main opposition leader of the National Parliament.
GM Quader is the younger brother of party’s founder late President HM Ershad while Raushan Ershad, one of the widows of Ershad, is the chief patron of the party.
Jatiya Party on Sunday nominated Fakhrul Imam, a lawmaker of the party elected from Mymensingh-8 constituency, as the chief whip of the opposition party for the Parliament, as former chief whip Mashiur Rahman Ranga was expelled from the party on October 28.
Sources said that Jatiya Party (JaPa) has backtracked on its stance a day after the main opposition party decided not to join the parliament session as long as GM Quader is not recognised as the opposition leader of the parliament instead of Raushan Ershad.
The party now says that its lawmakers will attend the parliament session as the speaker gave them assurance in this regard.
A press release issued on Monday said that JaPa chairman and deputy opposition leader GM Quader has urged all the lawmakers of his party to attend the parliament session.
Earlier On 3 September, JaPa parliamentary party proposed that Speaker Shirin Sharmin Choudhury appoint GM Quader as the opposition leader, replacing Raushan Ershad.
The speaker usually approves the proposal if it is made by a majority of the party members.
A party source said that the JaPa leaders met Speaker Shirin Sharmin Choudhury in the parliament and enquired about her decision on the matter.
"In view of Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Choudhury's assurance, the Jatiya Party will attend the parliament session," said a press release issued by the party on Monday (31 October).
Jatiya Party's parliamentary party has decided that GM Quader will be the head of their parliamentary delegation and informed the speaker about the matter in writing.
Currently, Raushan Ershad is the opposition leader who had been abroad for a long time for medical treatment with GM Quader as her deputy.
The 20th session of the current parliament that began Sunday will continue until 6 November.
Meanwhile, Jatiya Party lawmaker Fakhrul Imam has been nominated as the chief whip of the opposition party by its Chairman GM Quader. Fakhrul Imam will replace Mashiur Rahman Ranga who has been removed from the post of chief whip.
Another press release signed by Jatiya Party’s Office Secretary Mahmud Alam said that Fakhrul Imam was nominated as the chief whip of the opposition party by party chairman GM Quader as per his authority given by the party’s constitution.
It should be mentioned that a rift developed between GM Quader and Raushan Ershad, the two top leaders of the opposition party, over the leadership and control over the party.
