“After the death of Pallibandhu (Ershad), many feared that the Jatiya Party would face splits due to the big void created following his death. There’re also many plots to destroy the Jatiya Party,” he said.

GM Quader further said, “But the Jatiya Party still survives with people’s love. Jatiya Party is now much more consolidated and united. No evil force can stop the party from moving forward.”

He came up with the remarks while speaking at a doa-mahfil-cum discussion on the premises of HM Ershad’s grave in Rangpur, marking his first death anniversary.

Earlier, GM Quader together with Jatiya Party senior leaders paid respect to Ershad by placing wreaths at his grave at his Palli Nibas residence.

They also offered fateha there and prayed for  salvation of the Jatiya Party founder’s departed soul.

GM Quader said Ershad was a great leader who did politics for the welfare of the country and its people.

“We’ll also follow the ideology of Pallibandhu and take politics forward for the welfare of the country and its people. We’ll work to build a new Bangladesh as he dreamt of where there’ll be no unemployment, corruption and inequality. We’ll establish justice in society and good governance,” he said.

The Jatiya Party chairman also recalled Ershad’s contributions to the country’s development during his nine years’ rule.

Meanwhile, Jatiya Party observed the first death anniversary of its founder HM Ershad today (Tuesday) amid various programmes.

As part of the programmes, Jatiya Party flag kept at half-mast atop all the offices of the party across the country.

Besides, Qurankhawani, milad mahfil and discussion meetings were arranged at many offices of the party on the occasion.

HM Ershad, who was ousted in 1990 after his nine years of autocratic rule, died on July 14 last year at the age of 89 while undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka.

He formed 'Jatiya Party' in 1986 and was its chairman until his death.