Shad Ershad JP contestant for Rangpur-3 seat

Rahgir Al Mahi Shad is standing in the parliamentary by-polls to Rangpur-3 with the ticket of the Jatiya Party his father HM Ershad founded, reports bdnews24.com.

The seat fell vacant with the death of Ershad on July 14, which also widened the rift between his brother GM Quader and widow Raushon Ershad over who will be his political heir.

After the party reached a consensus on the issue, splitting leadership duties between Quader and Raushon on Sunday, it announced Shad as the candidate in a move that drew protests by activists in the party's stronghold.

Secretary General Mashiur Rahman Ranga announced the decision on the nomination at the party's Banani office after much drama that has come to characterise the party when Ershad was alive.

Known as Shad Ershad, the Jatiya Party candidate told bdnews24.com in the afternoon he was yet to know about the announcement.