Mohammad Al Amin: The internal conflict between Jatiya Party top leaders Raushon Ershad and GM Quader seems to be resolved soon as they held a meeting after a long time to discuss different issues on Tuesday.
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader held a meeting with JP chief patron Raushon Ershad at hotel Westin in the capital where she is now staying on her return from Bangkok.
Jatiya Party co-chairman Syed Abu Hossain Babla, presidium member Shafiqur Rahman Sentu, Raushon’s son Rahgir Al Mahi Saad Ershad and daughter-in-law Mahima Saad were also present at the meeting.
“A meeting was held around 10:30am. They discussed family issues and political perspectives. However, no final decision (about internal stalemate) has been taken yet. Both the groups will decide the next steps after further discussions,” Raushon’s spokesperson Kazi Mamunur Rashid told the Daily Sun.
Mamunur Rashid said Raushon Ershad, also deputy leader of the opposition in parliament, has given consent to the party’s nomination of Mayor Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa as a mayoral candidate for the upcoming Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) election.
Earlier, GM Quader nominated Mostafa as a mayoral candidate for the RCC polls while pro-Raushon leaders tried to convince her to declare AKM Abdur Rouf Manik as the party’s mayoral candidate, but she (Raushon) didn’t make any declaration.
Replying to a query, Babla said no decision has been taken in the meeting to withdraw the expulsion order against some party leaders.
“It was just first meeting between Raushon madam and GM Quader. I hope other issues (internal dispute) will be resolved in the next meetings,” he added.
Talking to the Daily Sun, Jatiya Party secretary general Mujibul Haque Chunnu said there is no chance at all to withdraw the expulsion orders against the leaders.
Jatiya Party sources said the ‘ice’ of the dispute between GM Quader and Raushon has started melting and soon the problem will be resolved though holding meeting of the party leaders soon.
Under pressure from inside and outside the party, GM Quader was compelled to meet Raushon Ershad and make an understanding with her resolving the stalemate, party insiders said.
In the wake of the longstanding internal dispute, some party leaders have taken the side of GM Quader while some others have taken the side of Raushon Ershad.
At the same time, a number of the leaders also have been creating pressure on the both sides to maintain unity for the sake of existence of the party.
“Otherwise, if GM Quader and Raushon Ershad do not come to an understanding, the party may split again. If the party splits further then it will loss popularity and strength,” a senior leader of the Jatiya Party told the Daily Sun wishing not to be named.
He also said both Raushon Ershad and GM Quader have to sacrifice something for the greater interests of the party unity.
On her arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka from Bangkok on Sunday, Raushon Ershad said, “I always want the unity of Jatiya Party…there is no question of splitting the party.”
She said she would sit with all MPs, presidium members, and others to remove confusion and misunderstanding.
“I am sure, we’ll be able to eliminate the misunderstanding and return to the political program unitedly soon,” Raushon said.
She called upon those who left Jatiya Party at different times with Anwar Hossain Manju, Naziur Rahman Manzur and Kazi Jafar Ahmed to return to the party.
“We must give due recognitions to those who were with us during the difficult and adverse times of the Jatiya Party from 1991 to 1996,” the opposition leader said.
Jatiya Party insiders said the internal conflict has deepen as GM Quader hinted at making an alliance with the BNP, expelled some pro-Raushon leaders, including Moshiur Rahman Ranga and Ziaul Haque Mridha.
He took party decisions bypassing Raushon in the name of authority given by the party charter, they added.
Raushon said Jatiya Party has no reason to make any alliance with BNP ahead of the next national election.
GM Quader has remained away from the party activities since October 31 following a court bar to his political activities as the party chairman.
The High Court on Tuesday cleared the way for GM Quader to perform the responsibilities as chairman.
