Raushan Ershad, widow of Jatiya Party founder HM Ershad, has been elected as the chief patron of the party during its national council for the next three years.

Besides, party’s incumbent Chairman GM Quader was elected as chairman of the party unopposed while Moshiur Rahman Ranga as secretary general.

Nearly 8,000 councillors of the party elected them during its ninth council held at Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh today.

In a major change to its charter, the Jatiya Party yesterday created the ceremonial post called “chief patron” and picked Raushan Ershad for it.

Jatiiya Party Dhaka district President Salma Islam and its north unit President Faysal Chisty greeted the party’s newly elected Chairman GM Quader by handing over a bucket of flowers. Photo: Collected

The decisions were made at an emergency meeting of the party’s presidium held at JP chairman’s Banani office in the capital yesterday.

The presidium meeting’s decision to amend the charter was approved in today’s council.

However, Raushan Ershad was absent in the council.

Party insiders said Raushan would enjoy the highest honour in all general meetings and other programmes of the party. Raushan will remain in the post as long as she is alive.

The party’s highest power would remain in the hands of GM Quader and he would preside over all the party meetings, the party insiders added.

According to JP sources, although Raushan will hold the party’s number one post, it will be an honourary post.

The party’s existing chairman GM Quader will actually operate the party remaining at its helm.

Raushan will be made the chief patron of the party to give her the highest honour on behalf of the party as she is the wife of our late chairman and the party founder HM Ershad.

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.