Two Gonoforum lawmakers-elect yesterday wrote to the Speaker expressing their willingness to take oath on March 7.

Sultan Mohammad Monsur and Mokabbir Khan, presidium members of Gonoforum, took part in the December 30 national election as Gonoforum candidates, with the BNP's electoral symbol “sheaf of paddy”.

Asked about the matter, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told The Daily Star that he did not know anything about the letter.

Senior Gonoforum leaders said they would take all kinds of actions against the two leaders if they took oath disobeying the party's decision.

Just around a month before the national election, the BNP, the Gonoforum and some other political parties had formed Jatiya Oikyafront.

Oikyafront leaders, including Dr Kamal Hossain, boycotted the polls results and called for a new election.

The BNP won only six seats against 289 by the ruling Awami League-led Grand Alliance.

All the six MPs-elect of BNP decided not to join the Jatiya Sangsad.

Talking to this newspaper, Sultan Monsur yesterday said Dr Kamal knew about their oath.

Mostafa Mohsin Montu, general secretary of Gonoforum, said the two leaders would violate the party's decision if they took oath.

“Our party has decided not to send the two MPs to parliament. We will take all necessary actions if they take oath.”

Montu also said the duo was misleading people by giving false statements.

If they took oath violating the party's decision, the Gonoforum would write to the Speaker to cancel their memberships for floor-crossing, he said.

Former Awami League leader Sultan Mansur, also an ex vice-president of Ducsu, was elected MP from Moulvibazar-2 and Mokabbir from Sylhet-2.

Soon after the December 30 election, the duo said Kamal was positive about their joining parliament.

On January 31, Kamal told journalists that the Gonoforum has informed the two about its decision that they should not take oath. 

Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh René Holenstein today said Switzerland commended all parties for their participation in 11th Parliamentary Elections in Bangladesh.

“Switzerland took note of the results of the 11th Parliamentary Elections and commended all parties for their participation in the process,” said Holenstein during a meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque today.

The Swiss ambassador deplored the violence that occurred before and during the elections causing unnecessary suffering and pain, according to a statement.

Referring to reported accounts of intimidation, irregularities and further obstacles to a level playing field throughout the process, which have tainted the electoral campaign and the vote, Ambassador Holenstein underlined the need to address these reports in full transparency and according to the rule of law.

“Switzerland trusts that the new Government of Bangladesh will uphold the democratic values it was elected upon and that it will support the people’s will to move towards democracy in full respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms,” he said.

He assured the foreign secretary that Switzerland looked forward to its continued partnership with Bangladesh.

The health condition of ailing Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, who is now undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka, remained unchanged, his brother GM Quader said today.

The former president is responding to the calls of the dear ones and moving his eyelids, Quader said at a press briefing this afternoon.

Ershad has not been put on life support. He is on oxygen support due to breathing difficulties, Quader said. 

Ershad, now 89, was given oxygen support as his health condition deteriorated on Sunday.

On June 27, Ershad was admitted to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka. He was being treated there for several infections.

Over the last nine months, the former military ruler has been suffering from various health-related issues.

The national election of December 30 has turned the life of Mofiz Uddin upside down -- and all for supporting BNP.

From a decent tea-shop vendor at Rabeya market of Bonkishore village in Rajshahi's Tanore upazila, the 48-year old man now works on a potato field.

“I have been a dedicated BNP worker since the 90s,” Mofiz said. “If I have committed a crime, it would be my engagement with BNP.”

In a tin-roofed earthen room under a Koroi tree at the market, Mofiz started the shop and ran it for over the last 20 years.

Furnished with a television, eight chairs, five tables, four benches and a few racks of bakery items, sweets and groceries, his tea-shop fetched him around Tk 3,000 a day to support his family of seven.

On December 21, Mofiz joined the election campaign for BNP candidate Aminul Haq when the latter went to Pachondor union.

Later that evening, a group of stick wielding men went to the market and ransacked the outside of his tea-shop, according to eye-witnesses.

“The attackers were outsiders, not known to me,” said a local businessman.

“I heard about the attack on my shop when I reached home, after campaigning that day,” said Mofiz. A friend of his called him from the market and told him to hide as the attackers were looking for him.

Until polls day, local AL men used the tea-shop as the election office of Awami League candidate Omor Faruk Chowdhury.

“Two days after the election ended, some local AL workers damaged what was left of the shop, including the earthen room, tin-roof, furniture, television, and everything else inside.”

Locals told this correspondent that they heard the AL men would build a party office in that place.

When contacted, Reaz Uddin, president of AL unit at Pachondor ward-2, said, “We are yet to decide on building our office there. If not an office, we may construct a passengers' shed that will come to the use of many.”

He said the land was 'khas' and Mofiz had been illegally occupying it.

On the identity of the attackers, he said, “Nobody knows them. They were wearing helmets and came to the village on motorcycles.”

He denied that it was local AL men who had damaged the shop after the election.

“It was Mofiz's brother, nephew and son who damaged the shop,” he said. On why Mofiz's own relatives would damage the shop, Reaz did not have an explanation.

When contacted, Rajshahi Superintendent of Police Md Shahidullah said they had not heard about the incident.

“We will investigate all allegations of post-election violence,” said the SP, adding that police circulated a message in the district so that no one would spread fear among others over feuds during the election.

Upon losing his source of income, Mofiz began work as day labourer on the potato fields to make ends meet, earning a mere Tk 300 a day.

“I am living in fear. I could not even go see the condition of my shop, the one I so dearly built from scratch,” he said. 

The Jatiya Party may introduce a special post for Raushan Ershad, its senior co-chairperson and opposition leader, at the upcoming council to pacify a section of party leaders who want to see her as the chairperson, party insiders said.

Raushan is likely to be made “chief patron” of the party at its next council scheduled for December 28, the insiders added.  

GM Quader, the party chairman, and top leaders loyal to him are apparently behind the move, said a party source.  

The JP will have to amend its charter at the council to create the new post, SM Faysal Chisty, a presidium member, told The Daily Star. 

The move comes against the backdrop of a High Court ruling yesterday, which questioned the legality of Quader being appointed the party chairperson without holding any council.  

The court issued a rule asking Quader and the Election Commission to explain in four weeks why his appointment should not be declared illegal, Deputy Attorney General Noor us Sadik told The Daily Star. 

Jatiya Party’s central committee member Mohammad Zahir Uddin filed the writ petition.  

Noor us Sadik said as per the constitution of the party, its office bearers would be appointed through a council, something which had not been done in Quader’s appointment.   

“Quader wants to solidify his grip on the party through the council. But Raushan madam can put up a stiff challenge,” said a JP presidium member loyal to Raushan.  

“That’s why Quader bhai wants to put Raushan madam in a ceremonial post to make her happy,” he added.  

Regarding the amendment to the party charter, a JP leader said a presidium meeting would be held in a day or two to approve the matter.  

At the council, JP might amend its charter in a bid to create a steering committee, sources said.   

The JP chairman will take advice from the steering committee in times of emergencies, said party insiders.  

Asked, JP presidium member Faysal Chisty said they were all set to hold the party’s council at the Institution of Engineers in the capital.  

He also said around 12,000 delegates, including 4,000 councillors from 74 organisational districts, are expected to participate in the council where the party’s new leadership would be elected.   

Meanwhile, JP sources said a section of leaders loyal to Raushan is trying to make her the chairperson for their own interests.  

They said they would raise the issue in the party’s presidium meeting.  

After the demise of HM Ershad on July 14, both Raushan and Quader were at loggerheads over who would become the JP chairman and leader of the opposition.  

Later, Quader was declared as the JP chairman, an appointment opposed by Raushan’s faction.  

Factions of Raushan and GM Quader, after several meetings in September, came to an understanding that Quader would remain the chairperson, while Raushan would be the opposition leader.  

Since then Quader, who had in April been announced as the chairperson by the late JP chairman HM Ershad, also his elder brother, has been holding the post unchallenged.  

CHANGES IN THE POST OF SECRETARY GENERAL? 

Jatiya Party insiders said Secretary General Moshiur Rahman Ranga might lose his post due to his recent “derogatory” remarks on Shaheed Noor Hossain, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.  

Party insiders said Ranga had lost the blessings of the ruling Awami League following his comments on Bangabandhu and Sheikh Hasina.  

Names of Kazi Firoz Rashid, Ziauddin Ahmed, Ruhul Amin Howlader and Fakhrul Imam are being discussed for the post of secretary general, said JP insiders.