JP Secy Gen at Bangabhaban

His call on the President on Sunday came after Jatiya Party announced to not contest the Jan 5 general election and all party ministers in the ‘all-party’ interim cabinet tendered resignations to Chairman Hussein Muhammad Ershad.

The meeting took place in the evening after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s meeting with Hamid at the presidential palace.

But no political issues were discussed, Howlader said to bdnews24.com after the meeting. “This was only a courtesy visit.”

“I came to check up on his health. Also he [the President] is my relative. We didn’t discuss any political issues,” he said.

Ershad had earlier said that he would forward the resignation letters of his party ministers to the President. The decision was changed later but Howlader’s call on the President propelled curiosity.

Submission of resignations was not an issue that they discussed, said Howlader, the Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister in the ‘all-party’ government constituted to oversee the polls.

He said Jatiya Party was firm on its decision to resign from the interim cabinet.

The resignation letters were being sent to the Prime Minister’s Office by mail since she could not give an appointment, he had said earlier.

Asked whether the Jatiya Party ministers would join the cabinet meeting on Monday, Howlader said they would not.

In a sudden move last week, former military strongman announced his decision to not contest in the parliamentary election.

This came a day after his party candidates filed nominations for most of the 300 parliamentary seats even after the BNP and its allies in the Opposition preferred to stay away.

Then on last Wednesday Ershad directed the six Jatiya Party ministers in the interim Cabinet and an advisor to the Prime Minister to quit their posts.

But the Jatiya Party ministers are yet to officially submit their resignations. They were seen holding meetings altogether and separately.

Earlier, Ershad had also declared leaving the ruling Awami League-led Grand Alliance.

The Jatiya Party Chairman has announced that his party will not join polls unless the election schedule is extended by 10 days and participation of all political parties is ensured.

Secretary General Howlader said party candidates who are yet to withdraw their nomination papers have received direct orders from Ershad to immediately pull out from the race.

Many others have already withdrawn their nominations, he added.