Staff Reporter :
Again Jatiya Party (JaPa) has faced a split as Ghulam Muhammed Quader, the younger brother of Late H M Earshad and Raushan Ershad, the wife of JaPa’s founder president, are racing to obtain party chief.
The rift came into light when GM Quader on Sunday expelled its co-chairman Syed Abu Hossain Babla of all party posts for breaking party discipline by exercising the power bestowed upon him by the party charter.
On the other hand, Raushan made the announcement at a press conference held at her Gulshan residence that JaPa’s council will be held on March 9.
“Our beloved organization Jatiya Party is now in grave danger. In view of the demands of the leaders and activists, I am announcing the 10th council of Jatiyo Party on March 9 to get rid of the situation and to reorganise the party,” she said.
Raushan also said earlier that she has taken the responsibility of the party’s chairman following demand of the party’s leaders and activists.
Kazi Feroz Rashid who was relieved from the party for siding with Raushan, was made the convener of the council preparation committee while JaPa leader Syed Abu Hossain was made co-convener and Golam Sarwar Milon was made joint convener.
Shafiqul Islam Sentu, another top JaPa leader of Dhaka North City Unit who was expelled from the party recently for siding with Raushan, was made member-secretary of the council preparation committee.
Addressing the press conference, Raushan, the immediate past opposition leader, said, “Many leaders and activists of all levels of JaPa are standing by my side. We all want to bring back life and energy to the Jatiya Party by presenting an acceptable national council of the party.”
“The main area of practising democracy in a political party is the timely national council of the party. The three-year term of Jatiya Party’s council has expired long ago.”
Raushan’s son RahgirAlmahi, popularly known as Saad Ershad, and several JaPa leaders who were expelled from the party at different times were also present at the press conference.
Meanwhile, JaPa Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu, while talking to reporters at the JaPa chairman’s office at city’s Banani said, the party’s chairman will take disciplinary actions against Syed Abu Hossain as he participated in the press briefing without resigning from JaPa.
On January 28, Raushan relieved JaPa chairman GM Quader and Chunnu from their posts and announced to take charge as the party’s chairman.