Former-Bangla President Ershad offers to stand down from party

Dhaka, June 30 (UNI) Bangladesh's former president Hussain Mohammad Ershad today announced his resignation as chairman of the Jatiya Party which he founded in 1986, but wished to continue to hold on to the chair until the party's next council takes place for the premeditated changes.

Ershad volunteered his resignation as political parties are under tremendous pressure to reform their parties and leadreship under the current military-backed caretaker government.

Political party reforms are seen as moves to exclude two former Prime Ministers--Khaleda Zia from chairmanship of her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Sheikh Hasina from presidentship of her Awami League.

Ershad appointed Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud acting chairman of the Jatiya Party to stand in, in what looks like a play-within-play move in party reform under the blowing wind of changes in the country's political arena.

I, in exercise of my special powers under the party constitution, appointed Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud, convenor of the coordination committee on party's reform implementation, as acting chairman of the party, Ershad said in a statement to he media.

Ershad said he would remain JP Chairman until next council, date of which was not announced. There is no scope for any confusion in this regard, he said.

Lt Gen (retd) Ershad, who usurped state power through a bloodless coup in 1982, had ruled the country for nearly nine years.

He was toppled in a pro-democracy mass upsurge in 1990 and put in jail on corruption charges. He is now facing a number of criminal cases, pending with courts.

Since his downfall, Jatiya Party faced several splits.

Recently, Begum Raushan Ershad, his wife, declared herself acting chairman and dropped Ershad from the Jatiya party as its chairman.

UNI