DHAKA: Dispelling flying rumours, Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad Sunday categorically said his brother GM Quader did not resign as Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister.

Ershad’s comment came in the wake of rumours that Kader, also a presidium member of the party his brother heads, quit the cabinet of Sheikh Hasina.

Addressing a conference organized by JP’s Dhaka City unit at the capital’s Engineers’ Institution auditorium, the former military ruler regretted that when he was ill, rumours spread that he had died.

Kader, who was also present at the conference, however, kept mum.

Representatives from the media thronged the Secretariat office of Kader to crosscheck if he really did so.

But the Minister refrained from meeting the journalists.

His personal staff said Kader Thursday asked the personal police guards not to join his duty. Security guards were seen Sunday.

BDST: 21:25 HRS, JULY 11, 2010