The tussle between Jatiya Party (JP) chairman HM Ershad and his wife, also the senior member of the JP’s presidium and leader of opposition in Parliament, Rawshan Ershad, is worsening day by day. The schism relates to control over the party and its functioning, inside Parliament. The conflict between HM Ershad and Rawshan Ershad worsened further over the nomination of reserved seats for women MPs from the JP. Both Ershad and Rawshan have prepared two separate lists of reserved seats for woman MPs, from JP’s quota, in the 10th Parliament.
JP started selling nomination papers for reserved seats at its Banani office on Saturday. At least 35 forms have been sold. The nomination seekers can submit their forms till Saturday evening. Meanwhile, Rawshan Ershad, has sent a letter to the Election Commission (EC) stating that she is the leader of the opposition in Parliament and suggested that the EC should communicate with her on matters related to the party and other
official business.
JP sources said a senior leader of the party handed over the letter to chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, on Wednesday.
EC sources confirmed that they have received a letter from the opposition Leader in Parliament and added that the EC will communicate with the JP, in accordance with the EC’s guidelines, as per the Representation of People Order (RPO).
JP had won 34 seats in the 10th Parliamentary election and its chairman, HM Ershad, MP, was made a special envoy to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on January 12.
ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader, MP, who is also the secretary-general of JP, however, said he was not aware that a letter has been sent by Rawshan Ershad to the CEC.
“If any such letter has been sent by her, we shall raise it with the highest party authority. We are all together and united in our party,” he said. The nomination of six women MPs from the reserved seats will be made through discussions at the party level, Hawlader added.
Courtesy of The Independent
