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.  

Four university students remain missing since they were allegedly picked up by plainclothes men in the capital's Farmgate area on Saturday, the day before national election.

Their families yesterday held a press conference at Crime Reporters' Association Bangladesh, demanding safe return of the youths.

The missing are: Abu Khaled Mohammad Jabed, 25, a third year student of Bangla at Asian University; Borhan Uddin, 26, English student at Stamford University; Rezaul Khalek, 24, final year student of Pharmacy at Manarat University; and Syed Maminul Hasan, 27, former student of a Unani Ayurvedic Medical College.

“We are very anxious about their fate, as we have been out of contact with them for two days,” said Jabed's brother-in-law Yeasin Karim at the press conference.

He urged law enforcers to rescue the youths or to produce them before the court if they were detained for any crime.

Some plainclothes men identifying themselves as law enforcers dragged them out of a bus in Farmgate on their way home in Mirpur-1 after shopping at Aziz Super Market, Yeasin said quoting a friend of theirs who was also in the bus but escaped detention.

“We contacted local police stations and other wings of law enforcement agencies but all denied picking Jabed up,” he said.

The families drew attention of national and international human rights organisations to be vocal for their release.

Contacted, Abdul Baten, additional commissioner (detectives) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said they did not detain the youths.

Mufti Mahmud Khan, Rab's Legal and Media wing director also said they did not carry out any drive in Farmgate on that day.

Congratulatory messages have been pouring in for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her party Awami League.

The Communist Party of China (CPC), the Developing Eight Organisation for Economic Cooperation (D-8) and the prime minister of Sudan in separate messages have congratulated Hasina and her party for the win in the December 30 parliamentary polls.

“Delighted upon hearing the victory of the Awami League [AL] in the 11th parliamentary elections of Bangladesh, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China [CPC] wishes to extend to the AL our heartfelt congratulations,” said a CPC message on Friday.

It said the long-standing friendly relations between the two parties have played the role of political guidance in the development of Bangladesh-China strategic cooperative partnership.

“On the threshold of new and important opportunities for the development of China-Bangladesh relations, the CPC stands ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the AL in our concerted effort to build a new type of party-to-party relations that seeks to expand common ground while reserving differences, and enhances mutual respect and mutual learning and to promote the steady progress of China-Bangladesh relations at an even higher level,” the CPC said.

Meanwhile, Sudanese Prime Minister Mutaz Musa Abdalla in another message on Friday said, “On my behalf and the People and the Government of the Republic of the Sudan, it gives great honour to extend our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for Your Excellency's re-election as the prime minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.”

In a message issued on Thursday, D-8 Secretary-General Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari felicitated Hasina and the people of Bangladesh on the AL's re-election.

“We, in D-8 Secretariat, share the same spirit with and join the people of Bangladesh in celebrating the outcome of this election. This decisive victory is a reflection of the people's aspirations for a prosperous Bangladesh and a stronger position and more assertive role in international affairs,” said the statement.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Indian National Congress Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani,  King Salman of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, King of Bhutan Jigme Singye Wangchuck, Bhutan's Prime Minister Lotay Tshering, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, West Bengal and Tripura chief ministers Mamata Banerjee and Biplab Kumar Deb also congratulated Hasina and her party.

Hasina led the AL to a thumping victory in the December 30 polls, in which the ruling party-led Grand Alliance secured 288 out of the 300 seats.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad.

In a condolence message, Sheikh Hasina recalled Ershad's constructive role in Parliament as the opposition leader.

In separate messages, the President and the Prime Minister prayed for salvation of the departed soul and expressed deep sympathy to Ershad's bereaved family members.

Meanwhile, the Speaker, foreign Minister, deputy Speaker and the chief whip also mourned the death of Ershad.

The health condition of ailing Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad has remained unchanged, the party’s acting chairman GM Quader said today.

Ershad has been on dialysis for the last two days and given mechanical ventilation, he said quoting doctors at Dhaka Combined Military Hospital (CMH).

“Doctors are optimistic that Ershad might get well with better treatment but he is not yet out of danger,” Quader, the younger brother of Ershad, said while briefing reporters at the party’s Banani office this noon.

Replying to a query, Quader said, all of the medical reports have been forwarded to doctors at Singapore but the specialists have discouraged to send him there (Singapore) as Ershad has been on life support.

GM Quader sought blessings from all for his brother’s quick recovery.

Ershad, now 89, was admitted to CMH on June 26 and kept on oxygen support since June 30.

The former military ruler has been suffering from various health-related issues over the last nine months