Jatiya Party presidium favours quitting cabinet
The presidium of HM Ershad-led Jatiya Party, an ally of ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL), has favoured quitting the cabinet.
It, however, delegated the authority to make an announcement in this connection to the party chairman Ershad, according to party co-chairman GM Quader.
The co-chairman was briefing newsmen after a meeting of the presidium at the party chairman’s Banani office on Sunday.
Several presidium members led by Jatiya Party senior presidium member Raushon Ershad skipped the meeting held with party chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad in the chair.
Ershad convened the meeting of the 34-strong presidium amidst a conflict between him and his wife Raushon over appointing Ershad’s younger brother GM Quader co-chairman of the party and replacing Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu with ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader as the party's secretary general.
Sources in the party said at least 24 out of 34 presidium members joined the meeting. Those who skipped the meeting included leader of the opposition Raushon Ershad, water resources minister Anisul Islam Mahmud, state minister Mujibul Haque, Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, Tajul Islam Chowdhury, Kazi Firoz Rashid and Fakhrul Imam.
Another presidium member Mashiur Rahman Ranga, also the state minister for local government and rural development, is currently staying abroad.
The presidium has also approved Ershad’s decision to appoint the co-chairman and replacing Bablu with Howlader as the party secretary general.
Ruhul Amin Howlader told newsmen after the meeting that the party will hold its national council session on 16 April.
Asked why Raushon did not turn up in the meeting, Quader said, “Twenty four out of 34 presidium members have attended the meeting. She could not join the meeting because of her own programmes. This does not suggest any chink in the party. Ershad’s stance is the party’s stance. Raushon never said she was out of this.”
He also said, “In today’s meeting, members of the presidium gave their opinion in favour of Jatiya Party ministers quitting the cabinet and they said the party will take the decision in this regard at an appropriate time.”
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