Ershad takes oath, avoids media

Jatiya Party Chairman Hussein Muhammad Ershad has been sworn-in as a member of the 10th parliament on Saturday, laying rest to any further speculation on the issue.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury administered the oath-taking ceremony conducted at her office in the parliament premises around noon.

However, Ershad left the parliament premises without speaking to journalists.

Nasim Osman, a Jatiya Party member of the 10th parliament, confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune regarding this matter. However, he said no Jatiya Party leaders met Ershad.

“He was a former president, that is why the respect for him is higher,” he said while explaining the reasons for the manner of oath-taking.

HM Ershad was attending treatments at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka since he was picked up from his Baridhara residence after an anti-polls stand.

It was not clear if Ershad came to attend the oath-taking from the hospital. Nasim Osman could not tell on when “HM Ershad will regain his fitness.”

After speculations over whether Ershad will take oath, Jatiya Party’s Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Howladar had said Ershad will brief media after swearing-in.

Regarding the inconsistency in this matter, Osman said the statement was misrepresented. “Ershad will in fact brief media when time comes.”

HM Ershad won Rangpur-3 constituency and lost Lalmonirhat-1 in the 10th parliamentary polls. After boycott by BNP, Jatiya Party is now the main opposition in the House.

Now, it is believed that Ershad’s wife, Rawshan Ershad, is the opposition leader in the parliament.