JP replaces secy general Ranga with Bablu

The Jatiya Party yesterday removed Moshiur Rahman Ranga from the post of the party's secretary general and replaced him with Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu.

The JP made the change in a sudden move "to appease the government" as Ranga was vocal against their activities, said party insiders.

The decision came following government "pressure" to remove Ranga from the position, they added.

Such a sudden change in the party's top posts is not new. The JP has a past record of removing its secretary general abruptly even few weeks before a national election.

A JP statement yesterday said that party chairman GM Quader, appointed JP Co-chairman Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu as secretary general replacing Ranga.

Party took the decision as per Article 20/1 (1) of the party's charter, where it said that party chairman would be able to take any decision including expelling or incorporating someone in the party on his own decision.

"I am not dissatisfied with the decision. Party charter gave chairman the power to take such a decision," Moshiur Rahman Ranga told The Daily Star regarding his removal.

"I was elected secretary general by the councillor. If the party had asked me to resign, I could have tendered my resignation," he said.

'RANGA REMOVED TO APPEASE GOVT'

More than three presidium members of the JP said that their party chief had removed Ranga on the direction of government.

"He [Ranga] created a controversy by terming Shaheed Noor Hossain as an addict in November last year," said a JP presidium member.

"He [Ranga] reportedly made comments about Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at that time," the JP leader addded.

Opposition Chief Whip Ranga, in November, sought unconditional apology for making derogatory remarks over Noor Hossain at the parliament following heavy criticism in and outside the parliament.

Regarding his remark about Bangabandhu, Ranga said if he had said anything wrong about Bangabandhu then he seeks "unconditional apology" for it as well.

Ranga claimed that he did not call Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina "corrupt and terrorist".

"Beside this, Ranga was vocal against government activities in and outside the parliament that made government dissatisfied," said another presidium member.

Ranga yesterday said that it was normal for them to have constrictive criticism of government activities.

"I do not see any reason for anyone becoming dissatisfied regarding the criticism of government," he added.

The senior leaders of the party also said that the party presidium member Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu was in good book of the Awami League leaders.

He was appointed the PM's adviser with a minister's status in the poll time interim government formed ahead of January 5, 2014 national elections, they added.

Despite repeated attempts, The Daily Star could not contact Quader for his comments.

PAST RECORDS

In December 2018, less than four weeks before the December 30 election, JP removed Ruhul Amin Hawlader from the secretary general's post and replaced him with Moshiur Rahman Ranga.

The JP chairman HM Ershad was unhappy with Hawlader due to allegation of "nomination business" against him.

Another reason for the change was that Hawlader failed to manage the ruling Awami League to ensure the nomination of two JP heavyweights -- lawmakers Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu and Salma Islam -- from the two constituencies, party insiders said.

In April 10, 2014, Ershad ousted Hawlader from the post, which he had been holding since 2002, and appointed Bablu to it in recognition of his "significant role" in the party.

In January 2016 Ershad removed Bablu from the post on charge of negligence in discharging duties, and reinstated Hawlader.