Feud in JP goes on

Several Jatiya Party lawmakers and presidium members yesterday demanded expulsion of Anisul Islam Mahmud and Fakhrul Imam from the organisation for allegedly playing the key role in declaring Raushan Ershad chairman of the party.

However, the party did not make any decision in this regard during a joint meeting of the presidium members and lawmakers, presided over by JP Chairman GM Quader, said meeting sources.

The meeting was held at the chairman’s Banani office in the capital yesterday. Around 30 JP presidium members, including eight lawmakers, were present.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Presidium Member Kazi Firoz Rashid said those who declared Raushan the chairman violated the party’s constitution.

“Their activities are causing confusion among the people and the party leaders and activists. Steps will be taken against them as per the party’s constitution,” he added.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Presidium Member Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, who was present at the meeting, said show cause notices might be issued to Anisul and Fakhrul, also presidium members.

Wishing anonymity, another JP leader said most of the presidium members said Ershad’s wife Raushan was misled by Anisul and Fakhrul over the issue.

The meeting also decided that the party would hold its council on December 28, subject to availability of a venue, said Presidium Member Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu.

On Thursday, a group of JP leaders and lawmakers declared Raushan the chairman. The move came amid rivalry between Raushan and Quader over the chairmanship and the post of the leader of the opposition in parliament.

Meanwhile, the Raushan-led JP faction will hold a meeting of the party’s parliamentary board in the city today to pick its candidate for the October 5 by-polls to Rangpur-3, said party sources.

The seat fell vacant following the death of Ershad on July 14.

In a separate meeting of the JP parliamentary board yesterday, the Qader-led faction of the party picked its candidate for the by-election. It, however, did not declare the name of the nominee officially.