Jatiyo Party chief patron Rowshan Ershad MP held a closed-door meeting with close senior leaders. Again she expressed strong views on participation in elections under any circumstances.

The meeting was held at Ershad's Gulshan residence on Friday (November 17) evening. In the meeting which started at 6:30 pm and lasted till 8:30 pm, the leaders present in the meeting gave their opinion about participating in the elections. However, only Rowshan Ershad's followers participated in it.

Sources in the meeting said that Rowshan Ershad told the leaders that she may meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina soon. Then the next action will be determined. On the other hand, rumors have been going on since Thursday that Rowshan Ershad and GM Quader will jointly meet the Prime Minister anytime. There may be a compromise between the brother in law and sister in law. In particular, a decision will be made on seat sharing and nominations.

The leader who participated in the meeting said on condition of anonymity that Rowshan Ershad is in a very confident position. She thinks that everyone including GM will come to the election. She does not see doubt in this.

In the meeting, one or two leaders presented the statements of some leaders of Jatiyo Party. They said, many offensive things about you (Rowshan Ershad). Strict action should be taken against them. In response, Rowshan Ershad said, these things should not be taken, they are also the leaders of our party. Politics should be done with everyone.

Opposition leader Rowshan Ershad's political secretary Golam Masih told Barta24.com that the election issue was discussed in the meeting. Madam (Rowshan Ershad) said, whatever the situation, Jatiyo Party will be in the election. She advised us to make election preparations and candidates to work in their respective constituencies.

From when party nomination form will be distributed? In response to such a question, Golam Masih said, we are still not clear about the chairman of the party. I want to make a decision based on his position. But even if he does not come, we are in the election under the leadership of Rowshan Ershad. Opposition Chief Whip of Jatiyo Sangsad Moshiur Rahman Ranga MP, who participated in the meeting, told Barta24.com that there was a discussion about participating in the elections. The opposition leader of the JS is confident of going to the election with everyone.

Although the chief patron of the party, Rowshan Ershad, put one foot in the election. Party chairman GM Quader is yet to give any opinion on the election question. He wants to think about the election question. Want to delay and see if anything else happens. The party is also keeping an eye on America's running. 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 Roshan remained in the election despite disobeying that order. Several presidium members told Barta24.com on condition of anonymity that Hussain Muhammad Ershad was a man of great power and personality. He couldn't stop the leaders from going to the polls, nothing compared to GM Quader. Many leaders want to be elected as MPs somehow.

GM Quader said in the meeting of the central committee of the Jatiyo Party on November 14, "Whether or not to go to the elections under the Awami League 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 views. If you value emotions in politics, you have to go astray, you have to value reality.

Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu told Barta24.com on November 16, "We have not reached any decision on the election question so far. I want to take a decision after seeing the situation for another three-four days. We feel that an election environment will be created through dialogue.''

Retired army officer and valiant freedom fighter Shahjahan Omar Bir Uttam has dramatically joined the ruling Awami League from BNP on the day after his release and submitted nomination papers as a candidate for Jhalkathi-1 constituency.

On Thursday (November 30) evening, Shahjahan Omar said, "From now on, I am no longer a 'BNP man'".

Shahjahan Omar said to a journalist's question about taking part in the 12th Jatiya Sangsad(JS) election by suddenly changing his party, how many more times will he stay out of the election. He said that the BNP should have gone to the 2014 elections.

He said that the party's secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other top leaders have been told to vote in the 12th parliamentary elections as well. Shahjahan Omar claimed that they also showed a positive attitude at that time.

Expressing disagreement with BNP's policy of boycotting the vote, the former vice chairman of the party said, how many more times will we be out of the election? I am not capable of considering the merits and demerits of BNP. I think BNP should have gone for election in 2014. Going in 2018 was a mistake and should have gone this time.

Brave freedom fighter Shahjahan Omar was elected Member of Parliament 5 times in 1979, 1991, 1996 and 2001 on BNP ticket.

He served as Minister of State for Law and Minister of State for Lands during the coalition government. Recently, his distance with Tariq Rahman was created due to not getting the membership of the standing committee and losing control of Jhalkathi district BNP. 

On the last day of nomination submission, BNP Vice Chairman Barrister Shahjahan Omar joined Awami League and submitted nomination paper from Jhalkathi-1 constituency.

He submitted his nomination papers on Thursday (November 30).

Awami League office secretary Biplab Barua confirmed the matter.

Earlier on Wednesday (November 29) afternoon, the court of Dhaka First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Faisal Atiq Bin Quader granted his bail.

It is to be noted that a bus of Mirpur Super Link Limited was set on fire in front of the passenger camp at Gauchia Market under New Market Police Station at around 7:30 PM on November 4. The bus was damaged to the tune of Tk. 5 lakh. In this incident, the bus driver filed a case of sabotage against him at the New Market police station. Later on November 5, he was arrested from a house in the capital.

Jahangirnagar University (JU) branch Chhatra League is buying various types of vegetables directly from farmers and selling them to people of various classes and professions at fair prices.

On Wednesday (November 29) at 4 pm, they sold these vegetables at a fair price at the transport area of the university on the instructions of the Central Sangsad of Bangladesh Chhatra League. A huge crowd of vegetable buyers was observed.

The program of sale of vegetables at a fair price was inaugurated by the president of the branch Chhatra League Aktaruzzaman Sohel and general secretary Habibur Rahman Liton. At this time, people from different classes and professions came to buy vegetables at a fair price. They buy the necessary vegetables as they see fit. More than hundred leaders and activists of various hall units of BCL were present at the time.

Leaders of the organization said that we are buying vegetables directly from the farmers and selling them at a fair price for the benefit of the common man so that the common people do not suffer due to the blockade of BNP-Jamaat. BNP-Jamaat is creating arson in the country. Due to their strike, the price of vegetables has shot up across the country. Some unscrupulous traders have increased the price of vegetables through syndicates. Common people are suffering. Keeping that in mind, we are selling vegetables at a fair price under the guidance of the centre.

Among these winter vegetables, each gourd is Tk. 40, Cauliflower Tk. 30 each, Chilli Tk. 58 per kg, Eggplant (round) Tk. 30, Onion Tk. 100, Eggplant (long) Tk. 38, Beans Tk. 42, Chichinga Tk. 38, Borbati Tk. 55, the organization sold coriander at Tk. 10 per stick, pumpkin at Tk. 100, red cabbage at Tk. 10 per stick.

Pooja Rani Das, who came to buy vegetables at a fair price from Chhatra League, said, 'As a result of this initiative of Chhatra League, we are able to buy vegetables cheaply. We are happy with that. It should be running. If it stops after few days then we will not get the benefit. If they sell vegetables every day, we will benefit a lot.'

Aktaruzzaman Sohel, president of the branch Chhatra League, said, "Some unscrupulous businessmen across the country are creating suffering by increasing the price of products by syndicating. We want people to buy consumer goods at fair and affordable prices. We want to deliver this service door to door. We will continue this initiative as per the directives of our leader Sheikh Hasina.

Raushan Ershad was a tested friend of the government. Govt and Intelligence agencies played with her, now GM Quader  will play with them.

A leader close to Raushan Ershad made such a comment after announcing his withdrawal from the election. The former Chhatra League leader told Barta24.com on condition of anonymity that the government will now see the real face of GM Quader. Until now, because of Raushan, he did not dare to take any strong position. GM Quader has been maintaining secret contact with BNP for a long time. Because of Raushan Ershad, he has been forced to announce going to the election even after delay. Now he no longer has that constraint.  GM can withdraw from the election at any time.

Many senior Jatiya Party leaders do not want to go to the polls if seats are not agreed. They think that they will be defeated by force if they go to this election. Due to which the pressure of not going to the election is increasing within the party. A joint meeting of Jatiya Party's central committee and district leaders was held on November 14. Out of 67 speakers, 65 spoke in favor of not going to the election. GM Quader also kept the decision of participating in the election hanging due to various reasons. Belatedly he announced to go to the elections on 22 November.

The pro-Raushan leader said that the situation may be like in 2014. Hussain Muhammad Ershad suddenly changed his mind and withdrew from the election after submitting his nomination in that election. Later Jatiya Party leaders took part in the election under the leadership of Raushan. This time, Raushan did not have that chance. Now the withdrawal of GM Kader means that the government will be left alone.

Raushan Ershad ended in just a few lines announcing her withdrawal from the election. She said, I participated in the 2014 and 2018 elections for the sake of the country and democracy. This time also I welcomed the election schedule. Despite the preparation for the election, it is not possible to participate in the election due to the non-cooperation of the chairman and  secretary general of the Jatiya Party and  for not nominating  many qualified candidates.

Earlier on Wednesday (November 29) at 7 pm, Raushan Ershad held a closed-door meeting with her followers at her residence. After the two-hour long meeting, she announced the boycott of the election. Although Raushan Ershad did not bring up the issue, the leader close to Raushan expressed regret. He said that Roshan Ershad was played with various assurances. The work did not go well.

On November 27, Jatiya Party published the list of party candidates for 289 constituencies. The differences between GM Quader and Raushan Ershad reached an extreme on the question of nomination of Raushan’s followers. Raushan Ershad did not take the nomination form of the party.  GM Quader agreed to nominate Raushan Ershad, Saad Ershad and Dr. KR Islam. On the other hand, Roushan demanded to confirm the nomination of 12 people including Moshiur Rahman Ranga, Golam Masih, Professor Iqbal Hossain Raju, Kazi Mamunur Rashid, Ziaul Haque Mrida, SM Fakhruzzaman Jahangir, former state minister Golam Sarwar Milon.

These leaders have been with Raushan Ershad for a long time. None of these leaders associated with the Raushan Ershad declared conference preparation committee has any post in the Jatiya Party. Even before, some are voluntarily inactive, and some have been fired. Besides, Debar-Bhabi (GM Quader-Raushan Ershad) cannot agree on Rangpur-3 seat of Rahgir Al Mahi Saad Ershad. GM Quader is himself a candidate for that seat by removing the current MP Saad Ershad. The distance increased as the boy pulled the seat. After the death of Hussain Muhammad Ershad, his son Saad Ershad was elected as a Member of Parliament from Rangpur-3 (Sadar) seat in the by-election. GM Kader has been elected from Lalmonirhat sadar in the last few parliaments. Raushan Ershad unsuccessfully tried to meet the Prime Minister for several days regarding the overall situation.

Government's journey with Raushan Ershad started since 2014. When Hussain Muhammad Ershad stepped down, Jatiya Party elected Raushan as the leader. Raushan Ershad sat in the seat of the leader of the opposition. She also played a leading role in 2018. Raushan supporters hoped that the government would side with them in the internal tension. How she helped to protect the position of the leader of the opposition in the current parliament.