Post-Ershad JP: Raushan lends support to Quader
In their first meeting over party affairs since the death of HM Ershad, new JP Chairman GM Quader yesterday sought the support of Raushan Ershad.
Emerging from the meeting, Quader claimed Raushan, Ershad’s widow and also senior co-chairman of the party, had lent him her support at the meeting, where they also discussed JP’s ongoing activities and the next course of action, according to insiders.
“Raushan Ershad is our guardian. We will take the party forward through taking her advice and blessings,” the party chairman said.
The meeting, held at Raushan’s Gulshan residence, comes against the backdrop of some JP senior leaders, including Raushan, remaining absent from Quader’s programmes.
Raushan, Anisul Islam Mahmud, Ruhul Amin Hawlader, Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, Mujibul Haque Chunnu and Fakhrul Imam, distanced themselves from Quader ever since he was made the acting chairman of the party in late February by HM Ershad.
According to party sources, the senior leaders opposed Quader taking the party helm in Ershad’s absence and backed Raushan for the chairman post instead.
Ershad’s death threw the party into a leadership crisis and created a scope for fostering divisions over the chairman post.
A JP presidium member yesterday told this correspondent that getting Raushan’s support meant the rift over chairmanship might cease for now.
“But the party might face crisis if the rift among the senior leaders intensifies in the days to come,” the JP leader said wishing anonymity.
At a press conference in the Banani office of the JP chairman in the city yesterday, Quader, however, claimed there was no rift in the party as “99 percent” of the presidium members were taking part in its organisational activities.
“Jatiya Party is implementing its political programme unitedly. Joint leadership of the party has made the organisation more organised and stronger. There is no division and disorder in the party at present,” GM Quader said.
Since its inception in 1986, there had been no other contender to challenge Ershad for the chairman post.
JP sources said some senior party leaders were backing Raushan for the post because it would be easy for them to get benefits if she led the party instead of Quader.
“That’s why those senior leaders remained unhappy with Ershad’s decision to make Quader the party’s acting chief,” said another JP central leader.
Amid opposition from some JP senior leaders, Ershad on March 22 removed Quader from the post of acting chairman.
He also relieved Quader of the co-chairman post, saying his brother had failed to discharge his duties and created divisions within the party.
Ershad also removed Quader from the post of deputy leader of the opposition.
But around two weeks later, Ershad, known for his political summersaults, reinstated Quader to the post of co-chairman and then again acting chairman of the party.
Quader was formally unveiled as the party’s chairman on July 18, amid an absence of a section of JP senior leaders.
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