Ershad makes Quader JP co-chair again

In yet another dramatic turn of events, the Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad restored his younger brother GM Quader in the co-chairman post.

Ershad, known for flip-flopping on key issues, made a public statement regarding the new decision yesterday, 12 days after he relieved Quader from the post.

On March 22, Ershad, also leader of the main opposition in parliament, removed Quader from the co-chairman post on charges of failing to discharge duties and creating divisions in the party.

Ershad took the decision exercising his power as per section 20/1/Ka of the party charter, which stipulates that the JP chairman can make any party decision on his own.

Using the same power, he reinstated Quader in his post last night, said a JP presidium member.

Ershad in his last announcement on March 23 also removed his younger brother from the post of deputy leader of the opposition in parliament and appointed his wife Raushan Ershad in his place.

The senior co-chairperson of JP, Raushan was the leader of the opposition in the immediate past parliament.

The recent ups and downs in JP's top leadership are the outcome of the conflict among party leaders over establishing supremacy, party insiders said.

Quader said he was deeply disappointed and felt humiliated by the allegations brought against him regarding his failure to discharge duties.

JP leaders loyal to GM Quader had been mounting pressure on Ershad to reinstate him. 

JP sources said such flip-flops by the party chairman were creating divisions and confusion among the party leadership and ultimately weakening the party.

Ershad is almost inactive in the party as he has been suffering from multiple old-age complications for the past six months.

He joined only one parliament sitting out of 26 of the recently concluded maiden session of the 11th parliament.

Sources close to Quader, presidium member of the JP, said a section of top party leaders had convinced Ershad to oust Quader as from the posts of co-chairman and deputy leader.

CHANGES IN TOP LEADERSHIP

On December 3 last year, the JP chief had removed Hawlader as party secretary general. Much to the surprise of many party members, then state minister for LGRD Moshiur Rahman Ranga was picked for the post.

Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu was made JP secretary general in 2014. Ershad removed him from the post on January 19, 2016. He was replaced by Hawladar.

The JP took part in the December 30 national polls as a key partner of the AL-led Grand Alliance and won 22 seats.