power over to Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, on 6 December 1991. Ershad was arrested, and his deputy, Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury became the acting chairman. On 27 February 1991 national election, the Jatiya Party won the third largest number of seats, 35 seats in the parliament. Jatiya Party won 32 seats in the parliamentary elections held on 12 June 1996 under the caretaker government (CTG). Jatiya Party joined the Bangladesh Awami League led cabinet. Anwar Hossain Manju, the secretary general of Jatiya, was included in the cabinet of Sheikh Hasina as Minister of Communication. Jatiya party splintered in three groups by 2000, this fraction was led by General Ershad, another led by Anwar Hossain Manju and Bangladesh Jatiya Party led by Naziur Rahman Manzur. In the 2001 parliamentary election the fraction led by Ershad won 14 seats, while the fraction led by Anwar Hossain won one seat. 2014 Election was a controversial election for Jatiya Party where Ershad's spokesperson Bobby Hajjaj publicly declared that Jatiya Party would not participate in the election. After the 2014 election, Ershad became the special envoy of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the Bangladesh Awami League led government. Jatiya Party became the opposition party and Rowshan Ershad, Ershad's wife, became the leader of the opposition. Despite being in the opposition party some leaders of Jatiya Party are also in the government cabinet. In January 2016, Ershad's brother, GM Quader, was made vice chairman of the party. In April 2016 Ershad appointed Rowshan as the vice-chairman of the party. In March 2017, Ershad indicated he might form a new political alliance with 14 other parties. For the next general election however, the Jatiya Party under HM Ershad formed a 58 party grand alliance of its own. Of the 58 parties, only Jatiya Party and Bangladesh Islamic Front have registration with the election commission as of 2017. Student front Jatiya Chatra Samaj is the student front of the party. It had celebrated Ershad's birthday in Madhu's Canteen at Dhaka University in March 2017, the same location in which pro-democracy protests against Ershad were organised during his rule. Central Committee Member Electoral history Presidential elections Jatiya Sangsad elections See also Grand Alliance (Bangladesh) Jatiya Party (Manju) Bangladesh Jatiya Party – BJP References External links 1986 establishments in Bangladesh Conservative parties in Asia Liberal parties in Asia National liberal parties Political parties established in 1986 Political parties in Bangladesh