JP Leadership: ‘Quader not appointed properly’
A press release purportedly issued by some senior Jatiya Party leaders has questioned the appointment of GM Quader as JP chairman.
The undated press release sent to the media said Quader’s appointment was not made following discussions at the proper forum of the JP.
The handwritten statement was issued on the official pad of Deputy Leader of Opposition Raushan Ershad, also the senior co-chairperson of the JP.
The Daily Star couldn’t independently verify the authenticity of the press release as Raushan couldn’t be reached over phone.
There had been a rift within the JP over its leadership for several months. The rift grew wider after party founder and former military ruler HM Ershad passed away at Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka on July 14, said party sources.
Meanwhile, Quader yesterday said the handwritten press release was “not authentic”.
Addressing a press conference at his Banani office, he said there was no division in the party over its leadership as the JP was carrying out its activities unitedly.
He said the party leaders would resolve problems through discussions if there were any.
PRESS RELEASE
The statement said, “Recently I came to know from different media reports that Jatiya Party acting chairman GM Quader has been made the chairman. The decision was not made through discussions in the proper party forum.”
“I hope the present acting chairman of the party will carry out his duties in line with the party’s charter until the next chairman is made,” she added.
She claimed that many senior party leaders expressed solidarity with her in this regard.
Apart from Raushan, names of nine other senior JP leaders were mentioned in the release. They are presidium members Anisul Islam Mahmud, Fakhrul Imam, Salim Osman, Narsin Jahan Ratna MP, Masuda M Rashid Chowdhury MP, Mir Abdus Sabur Asud and Delwar Hossain, lawmakers Raushan Ara Mannan and Leakoat Hossain Khoka.
Of them, Anisul, Fakhrul, and Delwar told The Daily Star that the release was issued by Raushan and that it was authentic.
However, Masuda, a founding presidium member of JP, said she knew nothing about the press release.
“I don’t know how my name was included ... I was not informed.”
She said some JP leaders who over the years used the party to gain undue advantages were “involved in such a conspiracy”.
“We want no division in the party. We want to take the party forward under the leaderships of GM Quader and madam Raushan Ershad.”
RIFT WITHIN
Quader, younger brother of Ershad, was named the new JP chairman in a press conference on July 18.
Raushan and some other senior party leaders, including Anisul and Fakhrul, were not present at the programme.
According to party sources, the senior leaders opposed Quader taking the party helm and backed Raushan for the post.
However, JP grassroots leaders and many presidium members supported Quader.
Comments