'Raushan and I are perfectly alright'

Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad yesterday claimed that his and his wife Raushan Ershad's relationship was perfectly alright, even though the duo's dispute over appointing GM Quader as the party's co-chairman made the news recently.

"Raushan called me just now [before his speech at a programme] and asked me where I am? I told her that I am attending a reception programme, and then she asked me why I did not bring her here," said Ershad, adding that he told her that he went to the programme rather spontaneously.  

The former military dictator, came up with the remarks while speaking at a reception for the newly appointed party co-chairman and secretary general arranged by Jatiya Party's Dhaka City North unit at a city hotel.

Ershad made the comment when the party had been apparently divided over Ershad appointing Quader, also Ershad's younger brother, as its co-chairman on January 17.

Later, the then JP secretary general Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu announced that Raushan, also the leader of the opposition in parliament, was the acting chairman of the party. 

Ershad then removed Bablu and replaced him with Ruhul Amin Howlader as the JP secretary general.

In the programme yesterday, Ershad said he had nothing to worry about as he had appointed his brother as his successor.

"I had been carrying a burden for so many days. I had no peace of mind, and smile on my face. I used to be worried over what would be the fate of my child [JP] in my absence," he said.

Ershad urged his party men to get ready to move the party ahead with renewed vigor under the new leadership. "You've been loyal to me. Now you'll also carry out my brother's orders," he said.