DHAKA: Jatiya Parity chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad had a parley with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office Sunday, in the wake of some important developments related to the former military ruler.

Sunil Shubha Roy, Press Secretary to the ex-President and JP chief, confirmed banglanews24.com.bd about the meeting of Ershad, whose party is the second-largest component of the Awami League-led ruling grand alliance, with the Prime Minister and coalition chief.

“The meeting began at 12 noon and lasted 35 minutes,” Sunil said.

But, when contacted, Abul Kalam Azad, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister, told banglanews24.com.bd that he did not know anything about such a meeting.

Following the recent High Court verdict canceling the seventh amendment of the constitution, the takeover by HM Ershad, the then army chief, on March 24, 1982 through imposing Martial Law stood illegal.

After the HC verdict, which generated a flurry of musings about Ershad’s fate, it was the first meeting of the leaders of the two major parties in the present Grand Alliance government.

Also, there has apparently been an uneasy air in the JP ties with the coalition evidently over power-sharing matters.       

BDST: 1523 HRS, August 29, 2010