Ex-Bangladeshi President to be main opposition leader in Parliament

Dhaka, Jan 4 (IANS) Former Bangladeshi President Hussain Muhammad Ershad, who ruled the country from 1982 to 1990, will become the leader of the opposition in the Parliament following Sunday's general election, his party said on Friday.

Ershad's Jatiya Party, a key ally of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League (AL)-led alliance government, said in a statement that it will join the Parliament as main opposition led by the former President, Xinhua news agency reported.

Ershad's younger brother and Jatiya Party chairman GM Quader, who is a former minister, has been chosen as deputy leader of the opposition.

Jatiya Party emerged as a main opposition party by winning 22 seats in Sunday's parliamentary election.

Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance got only seven seats in the election and rejected poll results and demanded re-election.

The Joint General Secretary of the AL Jahangir Kabir Nanak said the election was held in a free, fair and peaceful manner with the participation of all parties.

Out of 300 seats, Hasina's AL-led ruling coalition secured 288 seats, more than enough to form a government.

President Abdul Hamid had invited Hasina to form a government for another five-year term, his Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told the media on Thursday night.

He said members of the next Cabinet, including the Prime Minister, will take oath at 3.30 p.m. on Monday at the President's office.

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