Raushon, followers skip Jatiya Party’s presidium meet

Several presidium members led by Jatiya Party senior presidium member Raushon Ershad has skipped a meeting of the presidium being held at the party chairman’s Banani office.

The meeting has begun around 12:00noon Sunday with the party chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad in the chair.

Ershad convened the meeting of the 37-strong presidium amidst a conflict between Ershad 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 25 out of 37 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.

Jatiya Party’s newly appointed secretary general ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader said they would mainly discuss about the party’s next council and other organisational issues.