JaPa to choose opposition leader before next JS session

Jatiya Party chairman GM Quader on Tuesday said their party will select the leader of the opposition in parliament before the Jatiya Sangsad goes into its session on 8 September, reports UNB.

Talking to reporters at JaPa chairman's Banani office, he also said there is no split in their party and it will participate in Rangpur-3 by-polls unitedly.

“The Leader of the Opposition will be picked before the next session of parliament,” he said.

The fourth session of the 11th Jatiya Sangsad will begin at 5:00pm on 8 September.

The post of the Leader of the Opposition in parliament fell vacant following JaPa chairman HM Ershad's death on 14 July.

On 10 January this year, Ershad and his brother GM Quader were officially recognised as leader of the opposition and deputy leader of the opposition respectively in the 11th parliament.

In a dramatic move on 23 March, Ershad picked his wife Raushan Ershad, senior co-chairman of the party, as the deputy leader of the opposition in parliament, relieving GM Quader of the post.

Raushan was the opposition leader in the 10th parliament.

JaPa joined the 11th general election as the key partner of the grand alliance and bagged 22 seats. After the election, the party decided to play the role of opposition in parliament.

Jatiya Party sources said party presidium members and MPs are divided into two factions over selecting the opposition leader.

Some leaders loyal to Raushan want her to play the role of the opposition leader while others favour GM Quader for the post as his the party chief.

A party presidium member, wishing anonymity said, a meeting of their party policymaking body will be held soon and the opposition leader will be finalised based on majority's decision.

He said Jatiya Party is also facing difficulties over nominating candidate for the by-polls to Ershad's Rangpur-3 seat.

The JaPa leader said Raushan is adamant to make her son Rahgir Al Mahi alias Saad Ershad a candidate in the by-polls while GM Quader is silent over the issue as his nephew and a niece is also want to have the nomination.

Quader today said their party will unanimously announce its candidate for the Rangpur-3 seat.

He said the party nomination board will finalise the candidate, and warned of taking action if any one tries to violate party decision.

Describing Rangpur-3 as a stronghold of their party, Quader hoped that JaPa leaders and activists will work together to ensure the victory of the candidate to be nominated by the party.