Opposition Leader Raushon Ershad on Tuesday acknowledged that Jatiya Party has suffered a loss of credibility and respect due to their ‘dual role’ in Parliament.
“I had requested the Prime Minister to withdraw our members from the cabinet and allow us to play the role of the opposition. But it didn’t happen,” said Raushon, joining the general discussion over thanksgiving motion on the President’s speech in the House. “Had you (PM) allowed it, Jatiya Party could have been saved and remained in a respectable position. Now we aren’t in a respectable position,” she said, asking the Prime Minister to consider the issue as one more year of the current parliament still remains.
Raushon realised that JP cannot credibly claim to be in the opposition while taking part in the cabinet. “We’ll be either the opposition or be part of the government. Otherwise, take our 40 members of parliament in the government. There’s no need for the opposition (in the House).” She said the Prime Minister could have asked the Jatiya Party leaders to quit from the cabinet saying that there is no need for them to remain in the cabinet.
The senior co-chairperson of the Jatiya Party said she feels ashamed when she talks to journalists about the identity of her party. “When we go anywhere, we can’t talk to journalists. When I talk to journalists, I feel ashamed. Are we opposition or in the government? Which one are we?” Pointing at the Prime Minister again, Raushon said, “If you give directive, who won’t follow it? But you didn’t do it….. Or else, take all of us (in the government) and make us ministers.” At one stage, a Jatiya Party MP suggested she should avoid the issue. Raushon in reply said, “It’s important. Why should I avoid it?” She questioned the MP whether they can introduce themselves as the opposition when they go abroad. “You can’t say so. I can’t either.”
“This is why I don’t give interviews to any media. I don’t talk to journalists. When I do it they (journalist) first hurl such question,” Raushon went on saying. Turning to public sufferings due to traffic congestion, she said now people are very annoyed at traffic congestion as it turned severe in cities, particularly Dhaka city.
“People are fed-up at traffic congestions. What a miserable situation of traffic is! The Prime Minister can’t realise how common people suffer from traffic jam,” she added. The opposition leader also recycled her own old suggestion that the Prime Minister roam the city’s streets in the disguise of a commoner to realise how people suffer from the nagging traffic gridlock. She also criticised the Dhaka city corporation authorities for not containing the mosquito nuisance in the capital. Later, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina participated in the general discussion over the thanksgiving motion. In reply to Raushon’s remarks, the Prime Minister said the opposition Jatiya Party led by Raushon Ershad is playing a constructive and critical role. Sheikh Hasina also thanked the opposition for playing the constructive role in the Parliament saying that when BNP was in Parliament, they used all kinds of indecent words in the House. The Prime Minister noted that the Jatiya Party MPs move various amendment proposals when a bill is placed in the House. “An example has been set up over how the democratic practices can be fair in this parliament. This is why we cordially thank the opposition,” Hasina said.
Following the marathon discussion over the thanksgiving motion on the President’s speech, the Jatiya Sangsad unanimously adopted the motion.
President Abdul Hamid on January 7 last delivered the speech in the first session of the New Year in the House in line with the Constitutional provision. Subsequently, Chief Whip ASM Feroz moved a thanksgiving motion on the President speech.
