DHAKA, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Former Bangladeshi President Hussain Muhammad Ershad, who ruled the country from 1982 to 1990, will become the leader of the opposition at the parliament following Sunday's general election, his party said Friday.
Ershad's Jatiya Party, a key ally of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League(AL)-led alliance government, said in a statement on Friday that it will join the parliament as main opposition led by the former president.
Ershad's younger brother and Jatiya Party chairman GM Quader, who is a former minister, has been chosen as deputy leader of the opposition.
Jatiya Party emerged as a main opposition party by winning 22 seats in Sunday's parliamentary election.
Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance got only seven seats in the election, rejected poll results and demanded re-election.
The Joint General Secretary of the AL Jahangir Kabir Nanak said the election was held in a free, fair and peaceful manner with the participation of all parties.
Out of 300 seats, Hasina's AL-led ruling coalition secured 288 seats, which are more than enough to form a government.
President Abdul Hamid has invited Hasina to form her third straight five-year government, his Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told media Thursday night.
He said members of the next cabinet including the prime minister will take oath at 3:30 p.m. local time on Monday at the president's office.
