Ershad sacks Bablu, names Hawlader as JP Secy Gen

Raushan falls in line

Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman H.M. Ershad yesterday appointed Ruhul Amin Hawlader as Secretary General of JP, removing Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu from the post. “The party constitution has given me the mandate for taking measures against any member of the party if he or she violates party discipline. Bablu has breached party discipline and I am removing him from the post of Secretary General in the interest of the party,” Ershad, who is also Special Envoy to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, told reporters at a briefing at his Banani office. Ershad announced that Hawlader is the new Secretary General of the party and will discharge his duties from Tuesday. Ershad’s decision came a day after Bablu announced Ershad’s wife and Leader of Opposition, Raushon, as Acting Chairperson of JP, relieving the 85-year-old JP Chairman of the post. Ershad said that there is no division in JP and among party leaders and added, “I have appointed my younger brother, G.M. Quader as Co-Chairman of the party. He will discharge his duties as much as I ask him to. It is not an organisational post.”
“I have appointed Naziur Rahman Manju as Additional Secretary General without any provision of the party constitution. I even made Bablu Secretary General by removing Hawlader of JP but nobody raised any question. Why are there questions now?” Ershad raised the question. He said that the scheduled period for holding the party council is over and the party council will be held in April. He added that Quader and
Hawlader will be given the responsibility for holding party council in April. “The post of Co-Chairman will be passed in the next party council session,” he said.
Criticising Bablu’s role as Secretary General, Ershad said, “Bablu spent two years as Secretary General but failed to hold a single extended party meeting within this period. He even failed to organise the Presidium meeting. He has created a rift in the party by violating my decision and that is why I have relieved him.”
Replying to a query regarding Monday’s meeting at Raushon’s residence, Ershad said, “I am the party chairman. Only I have the mandate to call a presidium meeting; no one else can do it. The meeting held at Raushon’s residence was not a presidium meeting.”
Referring to a news item, the former dictator said, “I never described Raushon as illegal.” He requested reporters not to misquote him.
Bablu, on Monday night, announced that Raushon is the party’s Acting Chairperson, a day after Ershad appointed his brother, Quader, as the party’s Co-Chairman, demonstrating an imminent split in the party. Bablu claimed that the decision was taken at a joint meeting of the party’s presidium and parliamentary party members at Raushon’s residence. He said the meeting decided to uphold the party constitution under any circumstances.
Among others, Quader, Hawlader and Presidium members including Abul Quasem and party activists were present at the press conference. Some party activists were chanting slogans for the expulsion of Bablu and Anisul Islam Mahmud from the party.
Meanwhile, following the sacking of Bablu, pro-Raushan parliament members of JP, who were behind making her the acting party chief on Monday night, went on the backfoot.
A JP parliamentary meeting was held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban yesterday with opposition leader Raushan Ershad in the chair. Forty MPs of JP including party chief HM Ershad and newly appointed Secretary General Ruhul Amin Hawlader also attended the meeting.
Adding confusion to the chaos was opposition whip Tajul Islam, who gave confusing information about the meeting outcome. He said the JP parliamentary party has rejected party chairman’s decision on appointing GM Quader as the Co-Chairman and Ruhul Amin Hawlader as the Secretary General. But later he changed his version saying all the JP parliamentary members accepted party Chairman Ershad’s decision. “Chairman’s decision is final. Everything will be discussed at the presidium meeting,” Tajul said referring to tje parliamentary meeting outcome.
According to some who attended the meeting, Raushan asked Bablu at the meeting why he has announced her name as Acting Chairperson.
Later, Raushan supported to Ershad’s decision to replace the Secretary General, saying, “Your decision is correct,” sources said.

Ershad sacks Bablu, names Hawlader as JP Secy Gen

Raushan falls in line

Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman H.M. Ershad yesterday appointed Ruhul Amin Hawlader as Secretary General of JP, removing Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu from the post. The party constitution has given me the mandate for taking measures against any member of the party if he or she violates party discipline. Bablu has breached party discipline and I am removing him from the post of Secretary General in the interest of the party, Ershad, who is also Special Envoy to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, told reporters at a briefing at his Banani office. Ershad announced that Hawlader is the new Secretary General of the party and will discharge his duties from Tuesday. Ershads decision came a day after Bablu announced Ershads wife and Leader of Opposition, Raushon, as Acting Chairperson of JP, relieving the 85-year-old JP Chairman of the post. Ershad said that there is no division in JP and among party leaders and added, I have appointed my younger brother, G.M. Quader as Co-Chairman of the party. He will discharge his duties as much as I ask him to. It is not an organisational post. I have appointed Naziur Rahman Manju as Additional Secretary General without any provision of the party constitution. I even made Bablu Secretary General by removing Hawlader of JP but nobody raised any question. Why are there questions now? Ershad raised the question. He said that the scheduled period for holding the party council is over and the party council will be held in April. He added that Quader and Hawlader will be given the responsibility for holding party council in April. The post of Co-Chairman will be passed in the next party council session, he said. Criticising Bablus role as Secretary General, Ershad said, Bablu spent two years as Secretary General but failed to hold a single extended party meeting within this period. He even failed to organise the Presidium meeting. He has created a rift in the party by violating my decision and that is why I have relieved him. Replying to a query regarding Mondays meeting at Raushons residence, Ershad said, I am the party chairman. Only I have the mandate to call a presidium meeting; no one else can do it. The meeting held at Raushons residence was not a presidium meeting. Referring to a news item, the former dictator said, I never described Raushon as illegal. He requested reporters not to misquote him. Bablu, on Monday night, announced that Raushon is the partys Acting Chairperson, a day after Ershad appointed his brother, Quader, as the partys Co-Chairman, demonstrating an imminent split in the party. Bablu claimed that the decision was taken at a joint meeting of the partys presidium and parliamentary party members at Raushons residence. He said the meeting decided to uphold the party constitution under any circumstances. Among others, Quader, Hawlader and Presidium members including Abul Quasem and party activists were present at the press conference. Some party activists were chanting slogans for the expulsion of Bablu and Anisul Islam Mahmud from the party. Meanwhile, following the sacking of Bablu, pro-Raushan parliament members of JP, who were behind making her the acting party chief on Monday night, went on the backfoot. A JP parliamentary meeting was held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban yesterday with opposition leader Raushan Ershad in the chair. Forty MPs of JP including party chief HM Ershad and newly appointed Secretary General Ruhul Amin Hawlader also attended the meeting. Adding confusion to the chaos was opposition whip Tajul Islam, who gave confusing information about the meeting outcome. He said the JP parliamentary party has rejected party chairmans decision on appointing GM Quader as the Co-Chairman and Ruhul Amin Hawlader as the Secretary General. But later he changed his version saying all the JP parliamentary members accepted party Chairman Ershads decision. Chairmans decision is final. Everything will be discussed at the presidium meeting, Tajul said referring to tje parliamentary meeting outcome. According to some who attended the meeting, Raushan asked Bablu at the meeting why he has announced her name as Acting Chairperson. Later, Raushan supported to Ershads decision to replace the Secretary General, saying, Your decision is correct, sources said.