Amid escalating internal discord within the party, Jatiya Party's Chief Patron Raushan Ershad, who earlier declared herself its chairman, announced on Sunday that the party's national council will be held on March 9.

She came up with the announcement at a press conference at her Gulshan residence, saying the move was taken to reorganise the party and come out of the extreme disaster it faces now.

Speaking at the press conference, Raushon, the widow of the party founder HM Ershad, said the main area of practising democracy in a political party is holding the regular national council of the party.

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“The term of organising the party’s council has expired long ago…as per the demands of the leaders and workers of the party, I am announcing to hold the 10th council of Jatiyo Party in March,” she said.

To ensure the successful completion of the event, Raushon mentioned the formation of a council implementation committee, with Kazi Feroz Rashid as the convener, Syed Abu Hossain Babla as the co-convener, Golam Sarwar Milon as the joint-convener, and Safiqul Islam Sentu as the member secretary.

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Ahead of the January 7 election, a new split emerged in the Jatiya Party over the nominations of party candidates to contest the national polls. Raushon, the leader of the opposition party in the last parliament, did not participate in the election due to a disagreement with her brother-in-law and party chief GM Quader.

The party also reportedly did not nominate any leaders loyal to Raushon.

In the circumstances, Raushon expressed her determination to restore strength to the Jatiya Party through a successful council.

Meanwhile, Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader relieved the party’s co-chairman Syed Abu Hossain Babla from the party apparently for lending his support to Raushon.

The action was taken against Babla by issuing a press release by Mahmud Alam, joint office secretary of the GM-Kader-led Jatiya Party, soon after Raushon's announcement to hold the council.

GM Quader also removed earlier some party senior leaders, including co-chairman Kazi Firoz Rashid and presidium member Sunil Suvho Roy from the party following a conflict with Roshan Ershad over the leadership of the Jatiya Party.

Earlier on January 28, Raushon Ershad declared herself as the chairman of the party, relieving the current party chief and secretary general from their posts, amid growing resentment among the party rank and file over its debacle in this month’s parliamentary election.

She also appointed Jatiya Party praesidium 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.

“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 justifying her move.