Jatiya Party (JP) faction are agreed on Mashiur Rahman Ranga being their secretary general despite being divided on the leadership of the party between founding chairman HM Ershad’s widow Raushan Ershad and his brother GM Quader.
Ranga, however, has been quiet on whose side he’s on, with some party leaders close to him saying that he’s mulling over his options.
Earlier on Thursday (Sept 5), Jatiya Party Presidium member Anisul Islam Mahmud announced that Raushan, who had been serving as the co-chairman will from now onwards be the party chairman.
Later acting Chairman GM Quader said that the chief will be elected through council and there was no rift within the party.
The two factions are also divided on who will be the leader of opposition in the House but both have announced that Ranga is their secretary general.
“Ranga is our secretary general,” Anisul Islam said while announcing Raushan Ershad as the party chief.
Quader, on the other hand, told the media, “I’ve spoken to Ranga. He’s busy with something important.”
Meanwhile, Presidium member Kazi Firoze Rashid told Bangla Tribune, “Sixteen of us including Mashiur Rahman Ranga consider GM Quader as the party chief.”
“We want to see him as the leader of opposition and have also sent a letter to the Speaker which Ranga has signed,” he said.
He added that the secretary general was part of the pro-GM Quader JP that is the “original JP.”
A party leader close to Raushan, meanwhile, said that he’s keeping his distance and claimed that he has been less responsive to the phone calls of the pro-Raushan faction.
On Jul 18, four days after the death of HM Ershad, Ranga declared Quader as the party chairman. On July 23, Raushan along with seven MPs and two presidium members gave a statement refusing to accept GM Quader as party chairman.
While Ershad was alive, the party was divided into two: one was pro-Ershad and the other pro-Raushan. After his death, his followers became known as pro-GM Quader.
It is, however, believed that the government sympathizes with Raushan.
During a press conference held on May 4, HM Ershad said: “During my absence, my brother, GM Quader will be the chairman and so, he is now the chairman; as per party charter the party chairman will be the opposition leader.”
Earlier, a crisis had developed within the party over the nomination of an opposition leader in parliament after founder-chairman HM Ershad passed away on Jul 14.
However, both sides have said the issue relies on a nod from the government. The candidate who shows allegiance to the government will get the go ahead.