HM Ershad-led Jatiya Party is possibly to sit once again on the opposition bench in parliament as well as be a part of the government, thus playing what critics had described as a ‘dual role’ leaving the House without a strong dissent.

On Wednesday (Jan 2), the party held a joint meeting of its policymaking Presidium members and MP-elects to decide on its role, but an official announcement is yet to be made.

“We have discussed the matter and heard everyone’s opinion. Majority of the MP-elects are in favour of being a part of the government as Jatiya Party contested the polls under the (Awami League-led) Grand Alliance,” Co-Chairman GM Quader told Bangla Tribune.

He said that within a day or two after the oath-taking of MPs, which scheduled for Thursday (Jan 3), the Jatiya Party will open talks with the Awami League on the issue.

According to party insiders, Presidium member Salma Islam, who ran as an independent candidate and lost to the Awami League candidate in Dhaka-1 seat, said in the meeting that she was in favour of Jatiya Party taking the role of an “actual opposition”.

Syed Abu Hossain Babla, who has been elected from Dhaka-4, however, was for being in the government.

“We are lawmakers because of the Grand Alliance. Sheikh Hasina is now in the league of global leaders like Trump and Modi. She has no time to deal with Dr Kamal (Hossain), Mirza Fakhrul (Islam Alamgir), (ASM Abdur) Rab and (Mahmudur Rahman) Manna. What we need to consider is the development in our constituencies, which will be hampered if we are not in the government,” a source quoted Babla saying.

Presidium members, Shafiqul Islam Sentu and Azam Khan echoed.

Their colleague, ATU Taz Rahman, however, emphasized choosing a single path.

 “We need to decide to be either in the government or as an opposition, not both. It will be not wise to have minister while sitting in the opposition as it will harm the party’s image among the people,” he was quoted by the source saying in the meeting.

Rahman was backed by several presidium members, like Sheikh Sirazul Islam and Hafizuddin Ahmed.

Most of the MP-elects, including Mujibul Haque Chunnu, a state minister in the current administration, however, were in favour of being in the government.

Presidium member Golam Kibria Tipu raised the issue of opening an inquiry on the alleged nomination trade during before the election.

Kazi Firoz Rashid, the MP-elect from Dhaka-6, refrained from commenting during the meeting.

Speaking to Bangla Tribune late Wednesday, he said, “A good number of people within the party are in a favour of taking the role of an actual opposition. However, the party is possibly taking the path, it took in 2014.”

Ershad’s Jatiya Party became the main opposition in parliament after the last general election boycotted by the BNP, but has three of its MPs as minister in the government formed after it.

His wife Raushan Ershad was the leader of the opposition in the tenth parliament.

Speaking to Bangla Tribune on Wednesday, Ershad’s brother and party Co-Chairman GM Quader, however, said it’s yet to be decided who will be their leader in the House if the party sits on the opposition bench.

Asked on his possibility of being the leader of the opposition, Quader replied: “It’s the chairman’s call.”

On Tuesday (Jan 1), Ershad once again named his brother as his successor in the party in a statement sent to the media two days after the parliamentary elections.

Quader will act as chairman in Ershad’s absence, the party chief wrote in the statement titled “Future instructions for the Jatiya Party”.

Ershad also said he hopes the party council will elect Quader chairman as they had done in his own case.

“GM Quader will assist me until I work as Jatiya Party chairman,” he added.

Ershad did not give any clue as to why he needed to issue the statement but it triggered speculations of Quader, instead of Raushon, serving as the leader of the opposition in the House.