Tajul, Ranga complain to PM

Jatiya Party (JP) leaders Tajul Islam Chowdhury and Mashiur Rahman Ranga have complained to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after being removed from the party’s presidium.

Chairman HM Ershad, also Hasina's special envoy, fired the duo known to be Raushon Ershad loyalists on Wednesday.

On learning of their removal, Tajul and Ranga rushed to the prime minister, while she was on her way to say her evening prayers, to complain about Ershad's decision.

They discussed the matter at length with her.

Former JP Vice Chairman ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader and presidium member Kazi Firoj Rashid were with them.

Their conversation could be heard from Parliament's gallery.

Tajul told Hasina that Ershad had sent the termination paper. “It's being run on TV scrolls."

They complained about dissolution of their district committees as well.

JaSaD MP Shirin Akhter and Chief Whip ASM Feroz were standing next to Hasina at the time of the conversation. Several other MPs watched as the two JP leaders spoke.

In recent weeks, Ershad has been critical of the government and said the resignations of his party's ministers from the Cabinet were being discussed.

The duo incurred Ershad's wrath after urging him to resign from the post of the prime minister's special envoy.

The Awami League won the BNP-boycotted Jan 5 polls and formed the government for the second time in a row.

The Jatiya Party, which emerged as the main Opposition, joined Hasina's Cabinet.

There has been criticism from inside the party on its dual role as the opposition and a stakeholder in the government.