Jatiya Party Senior Co-Chairman Raushon Ershad, who serves as the leader of the opposition in parliament, has skipped the inaugural session of the party's national council.

The party's 9th national council, held after nearly four years, has kicked off on Saturday (Dec 28) at the capital's Engineers' Institute.

Earlier, Jatiya Party high-ups declared the creation of a new post, chief patron, for party founder HM Ershad's widow Raushon Ershad while GM Quader will remain in the post of chairman.

As chief patron, Raushon, who is currently serving as the senior co-chairman of the party, will remain above the chairman. "She will be given the highest honour in the party, and at its meetings or general meetings," Secretary-General Moshiur Rahman Ranga told reporters on Friday (Dec 27).

After the demise of the former military strongman HM Ershad on Jul 14, both Raushon and Quader were at loggerheads over the reins of the party.

Later, Quader was declared as the chairman, an appointment opposed by Raushon’s faction.

Factions of Raushon and GM Quader, after several meetings in September, came to an understanding that Quader would remain the chairperson, while Raushon would be the opposition leader.