Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad wants the rank and status of the deputy prime minister for the Leader of the Opposition in parliament.

Speaking to the media on Sunday (Jan 6) after he was sworn in as an MP to the 11th National Parliament, he said, “We will request the Speaker to make a new law giving the opposition leader the rank and status of the deputy prime minister and the status of a state minister for the opposition chief whip.”

Earlier in the day, former military dictator was sworn in to the parliament by Speaker Shirin Sharmin Choudhury.

On Thursday (Jan 3), 21 MPs elected from the Jatiya Party were sworn in without him.

Eighty-seven-year-old Ershad made several dramatic moves around the time of the election.

In a statement sent to the media on Friday (Jan 4), he put an end to the speculations of his party’s role in parliament by stating that they are sitting on the opposition bench in the House.

Ersahd said he would be the leader of the opposition with his brother and party Co-Chairman GM Quader acting as the deputy leader.

Mashiur Rahman Ranga, Jatiya Party general secretary, will be the chief whip of the opposition.

Ershad, who was initially contesting the Rangpur-3 and Dhaka-17 seats in the Dec 30 election, flew to Singapore for medical treatment shortly before the polls.

On his return from Singapore, he withdrew his candidacy for the Dhaka-17 seat in support of the Awami League candidate, Akbar Hossain Pathan Farook, an actor.

He could not take part in the election campaign for health reasons, but won the election from the Rangpur-3 seat.