Dhaka: Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad and leader of the opposition of the 10th parliament Raushon Ershad did not turn up at the oath-taking function of the new cabinet members at Bangabhaban on Monday.

Party cochairman GM Quader, who has been appointed deputy opposition leader in the 11th parliament, also did not attend the programme as he said he did not get the invitation card, reports the UNB.

GM Quader said Ershad could not join the function at Bangabhaban as he is sick. ‘Our chairman has been receiving treatment at Dhaka CMH since Saturday night. I don’t know why madam (Raushon) didn’t turn up at the programme.’

He said he had wanted to attend the programme, but he did not receive any invitation card to go to Bangabhaban.

GM Quader said Ershad may go to Singapore again on January 18 for receiving treatment.

Contacted, some senior Jatiya Party leaders, including two state ministers of the immediate past cabinet, said they did not go to Bangabhaban on personal grounds.

However, Jatiya Party MP Fakhrul Imam said he along with his five party colleagues joined the oath-taking programme.

Both Ershad and Raushon were present at the oath-taking ceremony of the last cabinet on January 12, 2014 while three Jatiya Party MPs joined the cabinet.

However, the Jatiya Party chairman this time decided that their party will play the role of opposition in parliament.

In a statement on January 4, Ershad his party will be the main opposition in the 11th parliament while he will act as the Leader of the Opposition.

‘As the chairman of Jatiya Party Parliamentary Party, I’ll be the leader of the opposition while party cochairman Golam Quader deputy opposition leader of the House,’ he also said.

Jatiya Party which joined the election as the key partner of the Grand Alliance bagged 22 seats.