Raushan now the leader of opposition
After a weeklong series of drama and tension within the Jatiya Party, it’s senior Co-chairman Raushan Ershad has been made the Leader of the Opposition, while JP Chairman GM Quader was made the Deputy Leader.
The parliament secretariat yesterday published a gazette recognising Raushan and Quader as leader and deputy leader of the opposition, following Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury’s consent.
As per the understanding between followers of Raushan and followers of Quader on Saturday night, the JP chairman on Sunday sent a letter to the Speaker requesting her to declare him as deputy opposition leader and Raushan the opposition leader.
Earlier that day, the Jatiya Party Parliamentary Party in its meeting formally selected Raushan as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.
The weeklong drama in post-Ershad JP intensified on September 3, when GM Quader sent a letter to the Speaker, requesting her to make him the Leader of the Opposition.
He claimed that 15 among the 25 JP lawmakers backed him for the post.
The following day, Raushan sent another letter to the Speaker urging her not to accept Quader’s request.
On September 5, Raushan was declared JP chairperson as the rift between her and GM Quader over the party leadership and the post of opposition leader in parliament deepened.
Flanked by a section of JP leaders and MPs, senior presidium member Anisul Islam Mahmud, also a lawmaker, made the announcement at a press conference at Raushan’s Gulshan residence.
Raushan, who was present there, said JP leaders were worried about the party. “They also fear that the party is going to split up like it did in the past. But I want to run the party taking everyone along.”
Hours after the press conference by the Raushan faction, Quader held a briefing at the party’s Banani office and said action would be taken against those who declared Raushan the JP chief, adding that according to the party charter, he was still the chairman.
On July 18, JP Secretary General Moshiur Rahman Ranga formally announced that Quader was the JP chairman.
Four days later, Raushan in a statement said Quader could not be declared the chairman without any decision made at party forums. She said she did not accept Quader as the chairman.
On September 7, the two feuding factions of the Jatiya Party called truce and decided that GM Quader would remain in his post as party chairman and Raushan would become the Leader of the Opposition in parliament.
Representatives of both factions met at a city hotel to reach an agreement.
Meanwhile, Quader yesterday at a press conference at his Banani office said there was no division in JP at present as their leaders and activists are working together to strengthen the party.
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