Report in The Daily Star, Feb 28, 2018
Opposition Leader Raushan Ershad yesterday urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to relieve three Jatiya Party lawmakers of cabinet posts to help it emerge as the “real opposition” party.
“Drop three Jatiya Party members from the cabinet. If you [prime minister] do it, Jatiya Party will survive and will be able to play its due role with dignity,” Raushan told parliament while speaking on the thanksgiving motion on the president’s speech.
She also called upon the PM to induct all the 40 opposition lawmakers in the cabinet if the JP lawmakers were not dropped from the cabinet.
Raushan said, “If you give the directive, there would be none to disobey it.”
Speaking on the thanksgiving motion, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina did not comment on this issue. She only said she would not comment on political matters today (yesterday).
There are a minister and two state ministers from the JP in Hasina’s cabinet formed after the January 5, 2014 national election.
The JP became the main opposition party in parliament after the BNP-led 20-party alliance had boycotted the polls.
Political analysts and different organisations, including Transparency International Bangladesh, have been criticising the JP for sharing ministries with the Awami League and calling itself the opposition party at the same time.
During Raushan’s speech, some treasury bench lawmakers without using microphones said the PM already directed the JP ministers to step down.
Reacting to the remark, the opposition leader said, “No… you [prime minister] did not ask them to resign.”
“Still there is almost a year left. Please consider the matter.”
Raushan said she felt embarrassed when reporters asked her whether the JP was in opposition or in the government. “I do not give any interview to journalists due to this matter.”
The opposition leader said, “When you go abroad, can you [prime minister] say which is the opposition party in Bangladesh?”
At that time, some of the treasury bench lawmakers advised her to drop the matter.
Raushan in reply said, “Why won’t I raise the issue now? This is important.”
She also advised the premier to roam the country in disguise to get a first-hand experience about the people’s sufferings and environmental pollution. “Please, listen to what people say and see how they are living.”
“You [prime minister] always travel different areas with motorcades. So, you don’t understand the sufferings of the people,” she added.
www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/jp-now-wants-be-real-opposition-1541287
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