Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman HM Ershad yesterday branded his party's senior leader and Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud as one of the masterminds behind the 1/11 political changeover and demanded that he be tried.

Speaking at a council of Sherpur JP, Ershad alleged that Mahmud illegally became the party's acting chairman removing him from the post after the 1/11 changeover. "Isn't he a villain?"

Describing Mahmud also as a traitor and a conspirator, the JP chief said, "He is a mastermind behind the 1/11 [changeover]. I demand his trial along with the other masterminds."

Ershad said his brother GM Quader had been made JP co-chairman so that the latter could run the party in his absence.

He asked his party leaders and activists not to be get confused by a group of vested leaders in the party. "Don't pay heed to them, and stay away from them."

The biennial council of Sherpur JP was held at the district Shilpakala Academy Auditorium.

During the programme, Ershad announced that Ilias Uddin was made president while Shafiqul Islam general secretary of a new committee of Sherpur JP.