Howlader won\\\'t leave me: Ershad

Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman HM Ershad has said that ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, whom he sacked as JP's secretary general, has 'gracefully accepted' the decision. "Ruhul calls me father. He is like my son. He'll never leave me," Ershad said at a party meet last night. The JP chief said Howlader had promised to be with the party for life when the two met separately before the meeting began. “He will be with me. We’re one and undivided.” Ershad on Thursday replaced Howlader with Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu as secretary general without prior notice. A day later he said: “A new face is needed to organise the party and that’s why the appointment has been made.” Ershad had appointed Hawlader secretary general in 2001 after Anwar Hossain Manju formed a breakaway faction. Ershad said: “Hawlader’s contribution to the JP cannot be forgotten. He was at the helm as its secretary general for 14 years.” New Secretary General Bablu thanked Ershad for his appointment and sought Hawlader’s support in his new job, according to bdnews24.com.