Ershad again tries to install brother GM Quader as his successor in Jatiya Party

HM Ershad has once again named his brother GM Quader as his successor in the Jatiya Party in a statement sent days after parliamentary elections.

Quader will act as chairman in Ershad’s absence, the party chief wrote in the statement titled “Future instructions for the Jatiya Party” on Tuesday.

Ershad also said he hopes the party council will elect Quader chairman as they had done in his own case.

“GM Quader will assist me until I work as Jatiya Party chairman,” he added.

Ershad did not give any clue as to why he needed to issue the statement.

No Jatiya Party leader would comment on the issue either.

There was no hint of the issue either in remarks Jatiya Party Secretary General Mashiur Rahman Ranga made on the occasion of the party’s founding anniversary earlier in the day.

The statement came amid speculations that Ershad is travelling to Singapore again for treatment.

He returned home from Singapore four days before the election and announced support for the ruling Awami League-led Grand Alliance asking the party candidates going it alone to stand down in support of the alliance nominees.

But hours later he said the media had “misquoted” him and asked all the party candidates to carry on.

In a similar bid around three years ago, Ershad had named Quader as his heir in the party by appointing him as co-chairman and declaring the decision in his Rangpur stronghold.

Known for changing his stance, Ershad had later made his wife Raushon Ershad senior co-chairman following growing resentment among a section of the leadership over the promotion of Quader.

Jatiya Party Senior Co-chairman Raushon Ershad smiles as her husband Chairman HM Ershad tells her something at the party’s May Day programme at its office in Kakrail on May 1, 2016.

Quader had shown allegiance to Ershad by opting not to leave his brother's side when the Jatiya party chief announced a boycott of the last general election.

Raushon walked in the opposite direction. Later, Ershad was whisked off to hospital by law enforcers in charge of his security due to ‘illness’ during the elections, and ended up contesting and winning the popular vote.

He then became Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's special envoy while former minister Quader lost his seat.

After taking charge as the leader of the opposition in parliament, Raushon had said everything had happened with Ershad's 'consent'.

Ershad said he would disclose 'everything when the time comes', but nothing has been forthcoming.

The deposed military dictator started a drama this time again by getting hospitalised for illness. He later travelled to Singapore for treatment.