Ershad’s ‘odd’ absence

HM Ershad was conspicuously absent when Jatiya Party MPs went to pay their tribute to martyrs at the National Memorial.

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Jatiya Party leaders offered various explanations for the party chief’s absence.

Raushan, the Leader of the Opposition, led a 27-strong group that included Jatiya Party Presidium members Anisul Islam Mahmud, Mujibul Haque Chunnu, Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, Kazi Firoz as part of a prescheduled programme of the parliamentary party to pay respects to the nation’s martyrs on Sunday noon.

Ershad and Jatiya Party’s Secretary General ABM Rhul Amin Howlader were not present.

About Ershad’s absence, his wife Raushan said, “The chairman and secretary general couldn’t come because they were busy with other work.”

File Photo

When asked what kept them from coming, Kazi Firoz told bdnews24.com that they were interviewing candidates for reserved women’s seats in Parliament.

Masud Parvez, alias Sohel Rana, a Jatiya Party Presidium member, in reply to the same question said the party had decided to sell forms from Friday to Sunday.

“Interviews will be held on Monday. He (chairman) will interview the candidates tomorrow,” he said.

So why was Ershad not there?

“It’s also a mystery to us,” said the actor-turned politician.

“He is an elected member. Therefore, he should have been present in the parliamentary party.”

When asked if the chairman was feeling under the weather, Masud Parvez said, “No, he is not sick.”

Meanwhile, the Jatiya Party’s executive committee member Azharul Islam Shourav said Ershad had not got an invitation from the parliamentary party.

“How was sir (Ershad) supposed to come? He and the Secretary General were not told that the parliamentary party will go to Savar today.”

He said that those who follow Jatiya Party “should know where the orders come from these days”.

Jatiya Party, after much drama before the 10th national election, finally joined the Jan 5 polls to win 33 seats and emerged as the main Opposition in Parliament.

Its chief and deposed dictator HM Ershad was escorted by RAB to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) on Dec 12 and remained there in alleged ‘confinement’ until after the polls.

He refused to see journalists after returning home.

Opposition Leader Raushan claims all decisions are made with Ershad’s knowledge despite media reports about a divide in the party.

“I don’t have a problem with him,” Raushan Ershad told reporters at Savar.