Jatiya Party Secretary General and Communications Minister Anwar Hossain Manju has been removed from his party post.

A Jatiya Party press release signed by party chief and former President H M Ershad. said last night. "Anwar Hossain Manju has been relieved of the post of secretary general by the chairman in exercise of the powers vested in him under Section 20 (B) of the JP constitution."

Naziur Rahman Manju. Additional Secretary General of JP has been appointed Acting Secretary General of the party till the next council meeting, the press release added.

When contacted last night. Manju told The Daily Star that Ershad did not communicate with him that he had been relieved of his party post. Manju said he came to know about it from other sources.

Asked whether he will continue with the JP. he said, "wait and see". While relieving him from his party post. Ershad did not ask him to resign from his cabinet post. Manju added.

Meanwhile Manju had an exclusive meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last

night. Asked about the meeting, he said "It did not have anything to do with the JP business."

Manju’s removal from the party post has raised speculation among the political circles that the party is now set to split once again, sources said.

When contacted, the acting secretary general of JP said last night "Even after he was asked to resign Anwar Hossain Manju failed to discuss the issue with the (party) chairman till yesterday evening. So the chairman decided to relieve him of his responsibilities.’’ said Naziur Rahman.

Earlier in the morning yesterday. Ershad sent a letter to Manju requesting him to resign from the party post, sources said. The letter was handed over to Manju at his residence by the private secretary to the party chairman.

Talking to The Daily Star yesterday afternoon. Manlu had confirmed received of the letter. Asked whether he would comply with Ershad’s request and resign from the party post, Manju had said. "No comments".

Manju was asked whether he From Page 1 met Ershad after receiving the letter. Manju had said. "Yes." were together during the Jatiya Sangsad session today and discussed a lot of things, but it has got nothing to do with the organisation".

It may be recalled that few months back a section of JP leaders led by Kazi Zafar Ahmed and Shah Moazzem Hossain broke away from the party on the question of JP's joining the 'government of consensus’ led by the Awami League.

Asked whether Ershad's move will trigger further split in JP. particularly in its parliamentary party, Manju avoided a direct reply saying, "I hope not". Sources in the JP, however, claim that the secretary general has "manoeuvred sufficient support from party

Asked whether losing the party post will weaken his position in the government Manju said, "Strength and weakness of a minister depends on his ca-

pacity to deliver and his access to the chief executive."

The JP chairman's letter to Manju in which he was asked to resign said. "I am requesting you to resign from the post of secretary general of the Jatiya Party since a full-time secretary general is now required to strengthen its organisational activities," a party source said.

"For the sake of Jatiya Party and its betterment I had earlier requested you to resign from £ur cabinet post few months ck so that you could discharge organisational responsibilities as a full time secretary general and bring about dynamism in the party? the letter added.

"You. however, could not comply with my request, though. I hoped otherwise. As a minister in the government you are not being able to devote your time for organisational activities.''

"1 am personally grateful to you for the contribution you rendered during the last anti-government movement." the letter said.