Ershad returns to party work

Ershad-ed

Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader hopes that the “dark clouds hovering over the party will quickly go away”.

Ershad had refused to take part in programmes and see journalists while he took oath in Parliament after winning a seat in the election he had ‘boycotted’.

Complaining of sickness, the deposed dictator remained in the CMH, where he had been ‘escorted’ to on Dec 12.

He returned home after the new Cabinet took oath and was made special envoy of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He was interviewing candidates for Jatiya Party’s reserved seat MPs at his office in Banani on Monday. Presidium member Masud Parvez, aka movie star Sohel Rana, and Secretary General Howlader were with him.

Howlader said Jatiya Party’s list of nominated candidates for the reserved seats will be sent to the Election Commission within the next couple of days.

The list was being drafted with joint consents from party chief Ershad and his wife, the Leader of the Opposition, Raushan Ershad.

Jatiya Party won 33 seats in the 10th general election to emerge as Bangladesh’s main opposition, replacing the BNP, which boycotted the poll. The party also has representation in the Cabinet.

What was being said about a growing strife in Jatiya Party was a lie, said Howlader.

“People are saying that there is a conflict between the Chairman and Leader of the Opposition. These are all rumours. There is no discord between them.”

Ershad returned from the CMH to his home on Jan 12, after the Cabinet took oath. He was absent along with Secretary General Howlader in the programmes that followed, including when the Jatiya Party MPs went to the National Memorial at Savar to pay tributes on Sunday.

“Everything will be clear in time. This party went through a lot to get here today.”

Howlader forecasted saying, “The sky will be cloudy for a while. But the sun is behind it. Be patient and wait for the clouds to pass.”

Source: BD news24