Begum Rowshan Ershad (born 19 July 1943)[3] is a Jatiya Party politician from Bangladesh. She was the former Jatiya Sangsad member from the Mymensingh-4 constituency and the former leader of the opposition in the 11th parliament.[4][5][6] She is the chief patron of the Jatiya Party (Ershad)[7] and the widow of former Bangladesh president Hussain Muhammad Ershad.[8]

Rowshan Ershad
রওশন এরশাদ
Ershad in 2017
Chief Patron of Jatiya Party (Ershad)
Assumed office
28 January 2024
Leaderdisputed with GM Quader
Preceded byGM Quader
5th Leader of the Opposition
In office
9 September 2019 – 10 January 2024
Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina
Preceded byHussain Mohammad Ershad
Succeeded byGM Quader
In office
9 January 2014 – 3 January 2019
Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina
Preceded byKhaleda Zia
Succeeded byHussain Mohammad Ershad
Jatiya Sangsad
In office
12 January 2014 – 10 January 2024
Preceded byMotiur Rahman
Succeeded byMohit Ur Rahman Shanto
ConstituencyMymensingh-4
In office
23 June 1996 – 15 July 2001
Preceded byA. K. M. Fazlul Haque
Succeeded byDelwar Hossain Khan Dulu
ConstituencyMymensingh-4
Minister of Health and Family Welfare
In office
21 November 2013[1][2] – 6 January 2014
Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina
Preceded byA.F.M Ruhal Haque
Succeeded byMohammed Nasim
3rd First Lady of Bangladesh
In office
11 December 1983 – 6 December 1990
PresidentHussain Mohammad Ershad
Preceded byKhaleda Zia
Succeeded byAnowara Begum (acting)
Personal details
Born (1943-07-19) 19 July 1943 (age 81)
Political partyJatiya Party (Ershad)
Spouse
Hussain Mohammad Ershad
(m. 1956; died 2019)
Relations
Children2, including Saad Ershad

Political career

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As the first lady during 1982–1990, Ershad was active in social welfare and in promoting the rights of women and children. She was the chief patron of the Bangladesh Jatiya Mohila Sangstha.[9]

In 1975, Ershad became the founder-president of the Sena Paribar Kalyan Samity (Armed Forces Family Welfare Association). She attended the UN Special Convention on Drug Abuse in 1985.[9]

In November 2023, Ershad announced she would not participate at the 2024 Bangladeshi general election.[10]

 
Rowshan with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2015 in Dhaka

Personal life

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Rowshan married Hussain Muhammad Ershad in 1956.[11] Together they had a son, Saad Ershad, and a daughter, Jebin.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Won't stay minister long: Rowshan". bdnews24.com. 24 November 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  2. ^ "28 ministers out, effectively". Dhaka Tribune. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Constituency 149_11th_En". Bangladesh Parliament. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  4. ^ "List of 11th Parliament Members". Bangladesh Parliament. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  5. ^ বিরোধী দলীয় নেতা রওশন, উপনেতা জিএম কাদের. The Daily Star (in Bengali). 9 September 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  6. ^ Miazee, Manik (6 January 2014). "Rowshan Ershad to be opposition leader". Dhaka Tribune.
  7. ^ "They dropped us intentionally, alleges Raushan". Prothom Alo. 12 December 2023.
  8. ^ Brown, Derek (14 July 2019). "General Hussain Muhammad Ershad obituary". The Guardian.
  9. ^ a b President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Hussain Muhammad Ershad, First Lady Begum Raushan Ershad - Pamphlet. Padma Printers Bangladesh. pp. 28–31.
  10. ^ "Raushan Ershad decides not to join polls". Prothom Alo. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Ershad passes away". The Daily Star. 14 July 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
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  Media related to Rowshan Ershad at Wikimedia Commons