Dhaka: In the latest turn of event in the Jatiya Party leadership crisis, a party faction on Monday announced party chairman HM Ershad’s wife Raushan Ershad as the its acting chairman.

Party secretary general Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu came up with the announcement at a press conference at Raushan’s Baridhara residence in the city drawing immediate response from party chairman HM Ershad who said ‘As per Jatiya Party constitution, it is illegal to make anyone acting chairman.’

Within hours of the Bablu’s announcement, Ershad, who is in Rangpur now, told to the journalist that Raushan, also the leader of the opposition, does not have any right to take decision regarding party policy.

‘Raushan Ershad isn’t party’s chairman, she is the chairman of Jatiya Party’s parliamentary body. And so she can’t make any decision,’ Ershad said.

Earlier on Monday, Bablu claimed that the decision was taken at a joint meeting of the party’s presidium and parliamentary party members at Raushan’s residence.

‘The meeting unanimously decided to make party senior presidium member and leader of the opposition in parliament Raushan Ershad as the Jatiya Party acting chairman,’ he said in his written speech.

Raushan, however, could not be reached immediately for comments on the development.

Bablu said the meeting decided to uphold the party’s constitution under any circumstance. ‘There’s no co-chairman post in the party charter. The party chairman yesterday (Sunday) made his younger brother GM Quader as its co-chairman without any discussion of the matter at any party forum, including presidium.’

The same way, he said, Ershad formed a preparatory committee with GM Quader as its convener and Ruhul Amin Hawladar as member secretary for holding the party’s national council. ‘His (Ershad’s) decisions are contrary to the party constitution. It has created confusion among party leaders and activists.’

Earlier at a press conference at the party’s Rangpur office on Sunday, Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad made his younger brother GM Quader as the party’s co-chairman.

Ershad, also Special Envoy to the Prime Minister, said GM Quader, a former minister, will also act as the Jatiya Party chairman in his absence.

He announced to hold his party’s national council in April this year.