Hussein Muhammad Ershad has brushed off all the rumours of him
stepping down as the Jatiya Party Chairman.
He also affirmed his position to not take part in the national
election unless his conditions were fulfilled.
Rumours have been buzzing since Friday night that Ershad resigned from
the party chief’s post and his wife Raushan Ershad has taken over as
the acting Jatiya Party Chairman.
Kazi Zafar Ahmed on Saturday also claimed that Ershad had stepped
down. Ahmed made the claim at a press briefing called to reveal the
details of a separate faction of Jatiya Party, which he had announced
earlier.
“I have got information from credible sources that Ershad has stepped
down (as the party chief) and Raushan Ershad has been given the
responsibilities to lead the party,” he said.
An hour later, Ershad dismissed the claims made by Ahmed who he said
he had ousted from the party a few days ago.
“I, HM Ershad, am the Chairman of Jatiya Party, will remain so till I
am alive and so there’s no scope for an acting Chairman.
“Raushan Ershad has not been made the acting Chairman,” he told media
persons in front of his President Park residence in Dhaka’s Baridhara.
The former military dictator also asked the media not to ‘spread any
confusion’ on the issue.
“Jatiya Party will not join the polls unless the schedule is extended
by 10 days and participation of all political parties is ensured.”
On Wednesday, Ershad had asked party members in the Sheikh Hasina-led
‘all-party’ interim cabinet to resign. On Tuesday, he had announced
his decision to not contest in the Jan 5 elections.
Party ministers had tendered their resignation letters to him on
Thursday. Ershad earlier on Saturday had said Jatiya Party ministers
had gone to submit their resignations to the Prime Minister.
The Jatiya Party leaders who are in the ‘all-party’ interim cabinet
are – Raushan Ershad, ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, Mojibul Haque Chunnu,
Ghulam Muhammed Quader, Salma Islam and Anisul Islam Mahmud. Apart
from them, Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu is the Prime Minister’s Advisor.
However, none of them submitted resignations to the Prime Minister as
her office was closed on Saturday. But they are expected to submit the
resignation letters on Sunday.
Ershad said, “Resigned or not (party members in the interim cabinet),
Jatiya Party will not go to the polls until all political parties
participate.”
Meanwhile, Chunnu, Salma, Mahmud and Bablu had gone to Raushan’s
Gulshan residence after Ershad spoke to reporters.
Chunnu had later joined Quader in another meeting at Howlader’s house.
While talking to bdnews24.com there, Chunnu said he was yet to tender
his resignation letter.
“The PM’s office is closed today (Saturday). …. Will submit it
(resignations) tomorrow (Sunday).”
Asked if others were submitting the resignations too, he said, “I know
about myself only. I have no information about others.”
However, while entering Ershad’s house, his brother Quader, replying
to a question from journalists, said, “We have tendered our
resignation letters to the party Chairman. He’ll do what he deems
fit.”
Jatiya Party Secretary General Ruhul Amin Howlader told reporters that
they would submit their resignation to the Prime Minister anytime on
Sunday.
Hussein Muhammad Ershad on Thursday had said that he would forward the
resignation letters to President Md Abdul Hamid on Saturday.
But he did not leave his house until the evening.
After he announced to stay away from parliamentary polls, RAB and
police presence was beefed up in front of his Baridhara residence,
prompting party leaders and activists to gather there. – bdnews24.com
