“Now GM Quader will play with them"
Raushan Ershad was a tested friend of the government. Govt and Intelligence agencies played with her, now GM Quader will play with them.
A leader close to Raushan Ershad made such a comment after announcing his withdrawal from the election. The former Chhatra League leader told Barta24.com on condition of anonymity that the government will now see the real face of GM Quader. Until now, because of Raushan, he did not dare to take any strong position. GM Quader has been maintaining secret contact with BNP for a long time. Because of Raushan Ershad, he has been forced to announce going to the election even after delay. Now he no longer has that constraint. GM can withdraw from the election at any time.
Many senior Jatiya Party leaders do not want to go to the polls if seats are not agreed. They think that they will be defeated by force if they go to this election. Due to which the pressure of not going to the election is increasing within the party. A joint meeting of Jatiya Party's central committee and district leaders was held on November 14. Out of 67 speakers, 65 spoke in favor of not going to the election. GM Quader also kept the decision of participating in the election hanging due to various reasons. Belatedly he announced to go to the elections on 22 November.
The pro-Raushan leader said that the situation may be like in 2014. Hussain Muhammad Ershad suddenly changed his mind and withdrew from the election after submitting his nomination in that election. Later Jatiya Party leaders took part in the election under the leadership of Raushan. This time, Raushan did not have that chance. Now the withdrawal of GM Kader means that the government will be left alone.
Raushan Ershad ended in just a few lines announcing her withdrawal from the election. She said, I participated in the 2014 and 2018 elections for the sake of the country and democracy. This time also I welcomed the election schedule. Despite the preparation for the election, it is not possible to participate in the election due to the non-cooperation of the chairman and secretary general of the Jatiya Party and for not nominating many qualified candidates.
Earlier on Wednesday (November 29) at 7 pm, Raushan Ershad held a closed-door meeting with her followers at her residence. After the two-hour long meeting, she announced the boycott of the election. Although Raushan Ershad did not bring up the issue, the leader close to Raushan expressed regret. He said that Roshan Ershad was played with various assurances. The work did not go well.
On November 27, Jatiya Party published the list of party candidates for 289 constituencies. The differences between GM Quader and Raushan Ershad reached an extreme on the question of nomination of Raushan’s followers. Raushan Ershad did not take the nomination form of the party. GM Quader agreed to nominate Raushan Ershad, Saad Ershad and Dr. KR Islam. On the other hand, Roushan demanded to confirm the nomination of 12 people including Moshiur Rahman Ranga, Golam Masih, Professor Iqbal Hossain Raju, Kazi Mamunur Rashid, Ziaul Haque Mrida, SM Fakhruzzaman Jahangir, former state minister Golam Sarwar Milon.
These leaders have been with Raushan Ershad for a long time. None of these leaders associated with the Raushan Ershad declared conference preparation committee has any post in the Jatiya Party. Even before, some are voluntarily inactive, and some have been fired. Besides, Debar-Bhabi (GM Quader-Raushan Ershad) cannot agree on Rangpur-3 seat of Rahgir Al Mahi Saad Ershad. GM Quader is himself a candidate for that seat by removing the current MP Saad Ershad. The distance increased as the boy pulled the seat. After the death of Hussain Muhammad Ershad, his son Saad Ershad was elected as a Member of Parliament from Rangpur-3 (Sadar) seat in the by-election. GM Kader has been elected from Lalmonirhat sadar in the last few parliaments. Raushan Ershad unsuccessfully tried to meet the Prime Minister for several days regarding the overall situation.
Government's journey with Raushan Ershad started since 2014. When Hussain Muhammad Ershad stepped down, Jatiya Party elected Raushan as the leader. Raushan Ershad sat in the seat of the leader of the opposition. She also played a leading role in 2018. Raushan supporters hoped that the government would side with them in the internal tension. How she helped to protect the position of the leader of the opposition in the current parliament.