Amid growing resentment among the party rank and file over its debacle in this month’s parliamentary election, Jatiya Party Chief Patron Raushan Ershad on Sunday declared herself as the chairman of the party, relieving the current party chief and secretary general from their posts.
She also appointed Jatiya Party presidium member Kazi Mamunur Rashid as the secretary general of the party.
Raushon made the decision at a views-exchange meeting in her Gulshan residence with a section of the party leaders who were relieved or voluntarily resigned from the party recently.
Read: Rowshan Ershad urges Jatiya Party leaders to remain united
“According to Article 20-1 of the party's constitution, I have relieved GM Quader and Mujibul Haque Chunnu from the posts of party Chairman and Secretary General respectively at the request of the party leaders and workers to overcome the ongoing crisis (within the party)," she said.
Raushan, the widow of party founder HM Ershad and sister-in-law of GM Quader, said she also took charge of the party chairman at the request of party leaders and followers.
She said Kazi Mamunur Rashid will work as the Jatiya Party Secretary General and carry out its organisational activities until the next council meeting of the party.
Raushan said she took the move as she cannot allow the party to suffer as GM Quader and Mujibul Haque have caused serious damage to the party.
She also said those party leaders who were expelled and relieved of their posts would be reinstated and the party national council would be convened at the right time.
Read: Jatiya Party a victim of conspiracies for a long time: GM Quader
However, Chunnu at a press conference said they are least bothered about the baseless move taken by Raushon as she has no authority to make such decisions.
“As per our party constitution, she has no power to take the decisions of becoming its chairman or dismissing anyone from any post,” he said.
Chunnu said Raushan announced the expulsion of GM Quader earlier thrice and later withdrew her announcements.
“So, we’re not taking it into our consideration. It has no basis. She (Raushan) has no such power in the constitution,” he said.