Raushan gains from Quader’s strategic retreat

There had long been apprehensions within Jatiya Party (JaPa) over who would take over the party’s leadership after the death of its founder, former president HM Ershad. The senior leadership in the party had been divided into two camps, one backing Ershad’s wife Raushan and the other his brother GM Quader.

Before he passed away, Ershad had made GM Quader the party’s acting chairman and it seemed as if a crisis had been averted. However, within two months of Ershad’s death, the leadership tussle between Raushan Ershad and GM Quader was out in the open.

Party leaders said that Raushan Ershad and her supporters found it difficult to accept GM Quader’s singlehanded dominance in the party and it seem as a rift was in the offing. However, speaking to Prothom Alo, Quader’s followers said that GM Quader and leaders of his camp opted for a ‘strategic retreat,’ saving the party from a split.

JaPa leaders who are neither of the Raushan or the GM Quader camp, said that it will be difficult to unite the polarised party. A crisis has been averted for the moment, but things are bound to heat up again over the council. The leaders said that certain elements within the party are trying to create a rift in JaPa in their own interests.

Various leaders of JaPa said that everyone had accepted GM Quader becoming the party’s chairman from acting chairman after Ershad’s death. However, things changed when he recently tried to become leader of the opposition in parliament. He also was opposed to nominating Ershad’s son Saad Ershad in the Rangpur-3 by-election.

This gave the opportunity for those opposed to GM Quader in the party to side with Raushan and create the prevailing situation. They declared Raushan Ershad the party chairman and polarised JaPa.

JaPa leader said that if GM Quader had not moved away from his demand to be leader of the opposition and from rejecting Saad’s nomination, things would have taken a different turn. JaPa’s split would come out into the open, pitching the party into a crisis.

JaPa secretary general Mashiur Rahman Ranga told Prothom Alo that the situation had taken a bad turn, but things were salvaged at the last moment. "We want to put all that aside for the moment. We hope everyone works for this election from the respective positions. There are no more problems within the party now. Everyone is united," he said.

Leaders of the Raushan and Quader camps held a meeting on Saturday night at the Cosmopolitan Club in Baridhara. Supporters of Raushan Ershad included JaPa presidium member Anisul Islam Mahmud, Fakhrul Imam, Mujibul Huq Chunnu, Selim Osman and SM Faisal Chisti. On GM Quader’s side were Kazi Firoz Rashid, Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, Masud Uddin Chowdhury and Syed Abu Hossain Babla.

GM Quader proposed that the next JaPa council be held on 21 December. It was decided at the meeting that he will remain party chairman till then. And Raushan Ershad will be leader of the opposition in the second term of parliament, with GM Quader as deputy leader of the opposition. This seems to have brought a kind of understanding within the party.

A presidium member of Jatiya Party, on condition of anonymity, said that everyone had accepted Ershad’s singular leadership within the party, but that will not be so in the case of GM Quader. That is why there are considerations of a change in the party constitution, the leader said.

Mashiur Rahman Ranga also mentioned possible amendments of the party constitution regarding the unilateral authority of the chairman.

JaPa leaders have been discussing and debating over who emerged the winner and who was defeated in the recent conflict within the party. Given the circumstances, there are also ruminations over how long the party will remain united.

It is said that the situation came under control to an extent with Raushan Ershad being made leader of the opposition and GM Quader deputy leader. If GM Quader can carry out his duties as party chairman and Raushan as leader of the opposition unhindered, then perhaps unity will prevail in JaPa.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, JaPa chairman GM Quader admitted that there had been some misunderstanding in the party, but that has been resolved. He said the problems had been cleared through discussions. He said that it wasn’t a matter of any side winning or losing. It was a win-win for all JaPa leaders. It is now time to move ahead in a united manner and JaPa was doing so, he affirmed.

* This story appeared in Prothom Alo's online edition and has been rewritten in English by Ayesha Kabir