Raushan skips JP council
Jatiya Party Chief Patron Raushan Ershad skipped the party’s ninth council yesterday apparently for being unhappy with her new post, said party insiders.
Raushan, widow of the party’s founding chairman HM Ershad, was elected for the top but ornamental post unopposed yesterday. GM Quader, younger brother of Ershad, was elected for chairman post of the party unopposed on the same day.
Later, Quader nominated Moshiur Rahman Ranga for the secretary general post. Quader would also announce the party’s central committee soon, said the party sources.
In the morning, the council began amid festivity. Leaders and activists across the country gathered on the premises of Institution of Engineers with flags, banners and festoons.
Around 10:00am, Quader and Ranga inaugurated the council by hoisting the national flag, the party flag and releasing pigeons.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, representatives from India, China and Vietnam embassies, and some 10,000 councillors and delegates of the party joined the programme.
Amid the festivity, leaders and activists of the party were curious about Raushan’s absence in the triennial council.
Several top leaders, close to Raushan, told this correspondent that Raushan wanted to become the party chairperson in absence of her husband.
“Quader bhai’s move to give her [Raushan] the ceremonial and powerless post couldn’t please her,” said a presidium member of the party, wishing anonymity.
Asked, JP’s Quader said he was not sure if Raushan skipped the council for disappointment over her post.
“I think she is sick as she didn’t attend the party’s programme for long,” he said, adding that the council showed her proper respect by making her the chief patron of the party.
The Daily Star, however, could not reach Raushan for her comment in this regard.
Earlier on Friday, JP presidium announced to bring major changes to its charter and created a post called “chief patron”. The presidium also picked Raushan for the post.
Along with the post, the party introduced eight new posts of additional secretary generals and seven new posts of co-chairman.
After the meeting, Ranga said Raushan would enjoy the highest honour in all general meetings and other programmes of the party. She would remain in the post as long as she is alive, he said.
Ranga, however, added that Quader would hold the highest power in the party and preside over all the party meetings.
The JP council yesterday approved the amendment to the party’s charter.
Meanwhile, Quader decided to nominate Anisul Islam Mahmud, Mujibul Haque Chunnu, Ruhul Amin Hawlader to the new post of co-chairman in a bid to pacify a section of the party’s top leaders who are loyal to Raushan.
A top leader, close to Quader, said, “Quader bhai also wants to tighten his grip in the party through this move.”
After the demise of Ershad on July 14, both Raushan and Quader were at loggerheads over becoming the party chairperson and opposition leader.
Later, Quader was declared as the party chairman, an appointment opposed by Raushan’s faction.
Factions of Raushan and GM Quader, after several meetings in September, came to an understanding that Quader would remain the chairperson, while Raushan would be the opposition leader.
At yesterday’s council, amid a big round of applause, Quader said there was no division in the party.
“We all have to be united and work together to fulfill the dream of Hussain Mohammad Ershad,” he added.
Senior leaders of the party also spoke at the event.
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