In yet another dramatic turn of events in Jatiya Party, Chairman HM Ershad last night appointed his brother GM Quader acting chairman of the party.

At an emergency press conference around 11:00pm at his Baridhara home, former military dictator Ershad, who has been suffering from old-age ailments for the last six months, announced, "Daily activities of the Jatiya Party chairman was being hampered due to ailments. That's why I am appointing Jatiya Party co-chairman GM Quader MP as acting chairman of the party to carry out the job until further notice."moved to ask Ershad questions about his latest decision, the leader of the opposition said he came to the briefing right after waking up from sleep.

Without giving Ershad any opportunity to speak to journalists, GM Quader took Ershad away in a wheel chair and asked the media not to disturb him.

At the briefing, Ershad again announced that Quader would take on the responsibilities of the party's chairman in his absence.

Ershad has been almost inactive in the party for the past six months. He joined only one parliament sitting out of 26 of the 11th parliament's first session. He took part in no sittings of the second session that ended on April 30.

In the last four months, Ershad announced at least four times that GM Quader would act as the party's chairman in his absence or when he goes abroad for treatment.

On March 22, he relieved his brother from the post of JP co-chair, saying that Quader failed to discharge his duties and created divisions within the party.

He said Quader totally failed to discharge his duties and that was why the party's organisational activities lost steam. Party’s senior leaders also expressed frustration over Quader's leadership.

A day later, Quader was removed from the post of deputy leader of the opposition.

Twelve days later, Ershad in a statement reinstated him to the JP co-chair post

Ershad, 89, looked weak and sick at the briefing. He stumbled while reading out his statement from a piece of paper. GM Quader read out parts of it for him.

When reporters moved to ask Ershad questions about his latest decision, the leader of the opposition said he came to the briefing right after waking up from sleep.

Without giving Ershad any opportunity to speak to journalists, GM Quader took Ershad away in a wheel chair and asked the media not to disturb him.

At the briefing, Ershad again announced that Quader would take on the responsibilities of the party's chairman in his absence.

Ershad has been almost inactive in the party for the past six months. He joined only one parliament sitting out of 26 of the 11th parliament's first session. He took part in no sittings of the second session that ended on April 30.

In the last four months, Ershad announced at least four times that GM Quader would act as the party's chairman in his absence or when he goes abroad for treatment.

On March 22, he relieved his brother from the post of JP co-chair, saying that Quader failed to discharge his duties and created divisions within the party.

He said Quader totally failed to discharge his duties and that was why the party's organisational activities lost steam. Party’s senior leaders also expressed frustration over Quader's leadership.

A day later, Quader was removed from the post of deputy leader of the opposition.

Twelve days later, Ershad in a statement reinstated him to the JP co-chair post.