Jatiya Party, which was formed by military dictator General Hussain Muhammad Ershad currently is seeing in-house renegade as there is attempt by its current acting chairman Ghulam Muhammad Quader (GM Quader), younger brother of Gen Ershad of becoming the main figure in the party by ousting Rowshan Ershad, widow of the former military dictator. It may be mentioned here that, Rowshan Ershad has been taking treatment abroad for the past two years, where the party was run by Quader. Despite the fact of Jatiya Party having only 2-3 percent vote bank in the country, it succeeded in emerging as the part of the main opposition in the parliament cum coalition government following 2013 general elections, while during 2018, it had become the main opposition in the parliament as the 2013 was boycotted by country’s main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) while during 2018 general elections, BNP could not bag even 10 seats, as it was rejected by the people for its controversial role immediately after the 2013 general election. It may be mentioned here that, Bangladesh Nationalist Party at the direct instructions from its chairperson Khaleda Zia and senior vice president Tarique Rahman continued countrywide terrorist acts including arson attacks demanding a resignation of the government and holding of a fresh election. Since the general election of 1991, Bangladesh Nationalist Party has been maintaining deeper ties with pro-jihadist Jamaat-e-Islami, while Jamaat leaders were part of BNP’s coalition government during 2001-2006.
As the next general election, which is scheduled to be held on January 4, 2024 is approaching and as there is strong possibility of Bangladesh Nationalist Party joining it, Jatiya Party has become interested in forming electoral alliance with BNP as its top leadership thinks, unless it joins hands with BNP or becomes a coalition partner of the ruling Awami League, Jatiya Party will not be able to hold its position as a “factor” in Bangladesh’s politics. With such mindset, GM Quader is particularly interested in forming electoral alliance with BNP. Meanwhile, Jatiya Party’s current top-boss Rowshan Ershad has already conveyed message to party leaders about her unwillingness of joining hands with BNP as she considers Khaleda Zia and her party as her arch rival and responsible for sending her husband Hussain Muhammad Ershad into prison following Ershad’s fall in 1990 through mass movement.
Sensing Roshan Ershad’s unwillingness of forming electoral alliance with Bangladesh Nationalist Party, GM Quader has started making attempts of ousting his sister-in-law – the widow of Ershad from Jatiya Party’s leadership role. Meanwhile, a large number of Jatiya Party’s senior leaders including its presidium members are working in isolating Rowshan Ershad from the party and politics.
Meanwhile, a court in Dhaka has ordered Jatiya Parry chairman Ghulam Mohammad (GM) Quader to refrain from party activities.
A copy of the court’s order was submitted to Jatiya Sangsad [National Parliament] Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury by Opposition Chief Whip Moshiur Rahman Ranga on November 1, 2022, said party sources.
“GM Quader has been ordered by the court to refrain from party activities. I have delivered a copy to the Speaker”, Moshiur Rahman Ranga told reporters.
GM Quader has been temporarily ordered to refrain from all party activities in the light of the party constitution of 28 December 2019, so that he cannot take any decision of the party and carry out any activities, the court order said.
Former JaPa MP Ziaul Haque Mridha was expelled from the party on 4 October. He filed a case against GM Quader. In light of that case, the court issued a temporary ban.
