Jatiyo Party Chairman GM Quader is in a dilemma over the question of not participating in the elections. If the election is boycotted, a large part under the leadership of Rowshan Ershad will remain in the election. And if he participates, it is said that the fear of America's visa policy is coming back to haunt him.
When talking to several top leaders of Jatiyo Party, they told about both such crises. Even the chairman himself has indicated this in the central committee meeting of Jatiyo Party on November 14.
GM Quader said in that meeting, whether to go to the election under Awami League or not will be decided in the political context. Awami League tried to weaken Jatiyo Party in various ways. Whenever I go to make a decision, there is a backlash. But the government is not able to break the party. My request, whatever decision I take, everyone will accept that decision. It may not reflect everyone's opinion. If you value emotions in politics, you have to go astray, you have to value reality. He raised the context of the letter of dialogue of the United States. In that letter, if free and fair elections are not held, the visa policy will be enforced. Will we take that responsibility!
The Jatiyo Party wants to think about the election question. Many said they were seeing signs of the 2014 election. Hussain Muhammad Ershad suddenly withdrew from the election after filing his nomination in 2014. But 87 candidates under the leadership of Rowshan remained in the election despite disobeying that order. Several presidium members told Barta24.com on condition of anonymity. Hussain Muhammad Ershad was a man of great power and personality. He couldn't stop the leaders from going to polls, nothing compared to GM Quader. Many leaders want to be elected MP in any way. Again, Rowshan Ershad has announced in advance about the election. Most leaders maintain two-way communication.
Professor Iqbal Hossain Raju, a former student leader known as a pro-Rowshan, told Barta24.com, "I think everyone except GM Quader and his wife will go to the polls." Almost everyone is secretly in touch with Madam (Rowshan Ershad). GM can't stop anyone.
Several top leaders of the Jatiyo Party told Barta24.com that the Jatiyo Party is moving forward with a positive attitude towards participation in the elections. The alliance with Awami League is being discussed very confidentially. If the BNP comes to the election, one kind of alternative idea is being kept. A powerful country is embossing it. For this, Jatiyo Party has asked for at least 60 to 70 seats. No decision has been given in this regard by the government.
On the other hand, Rowshan Ershad met the Prime Minister recently. Government confidant Rowshan has sought 35 seats in the 2014 elections. In that election, 20 Jatiya Party candidates were unopposed and later 14 won the election. Rowshan Ershad is also said to have come up with a list. Jatiyo Party formed the first electoral alliance with Awami League in the 2008 elections. At that time, Jatiyo Party was demanding 49 seats. Out of this 32 seats were allotted and 17 seats are left open. Awami League and Jatiyo Party candidates compete with their respective party symbols. Jatiyo Party won 27 seats in that election. And Awami League left 26 seats to the Jatiyo Party in the last election, in all 278 seats were contested by Jatiyo Party candidates. Among them, Jatiyo Party candidate won one seat out of 21 more open seats.
In a recent event, Jatiyo Party Chairman GM Quader said, we are still in the election process. We still don't know what the situation will be in the country. Will there be an election at all? But when the time comes, I will decide whether to participate in the election or not. As long as I don't announce, I am in the election process.
Secretary General of Jatiyo Party Mujibul Haque Chunnu said, Jatiyo Party has all preparations to join elections. Selection of candidates, preparation of election manifestos, printing of forms are all ready. But I don't see the election environment. All the elections that have been held in the last 5 years have been heavily coerced, candidates have been planted. Forced to seal the ballot. This has created a negative attitude among the activists about the election. The leaders of the district committee have given their opinion not to go to the elections under the Awami League.