Despite doubts over whether it will ultimately remain in the fray, the main faction of the Jatiya Party (JaPa) has entered the arena for the 13th parliamentary election.
Party leaders believe that even after the announcement of the schedule, a fair electoral environment has yet to materialise. However, considering various circumstances, they wish to stay in the electoral race.
Nevertheless, if the situation does not become conducive, JaPa could boycott the polls at the last minute.
Despite these challenges, JaPa – led by GM Quader – announced candidates for 243 constituencies on Thursday. The party’s Secretary General, Shamim Haider Patwary, unveiled the candidate list at a press conference at a hotel in the capital.
Patwary said candidates for the remaining constituencies would be announced soon, adding that three of those announced are currently in jail.
The JaPa chairman will contest from Rangpur-3, while the secretary general will contest from the Gaibandha-1 and Gaibandha-5 constituencies.
There were no major surprises in JaPa’s candidate list. No discussed or well-known figures from other parties, or candidates supported by them, were noticeable. The party began selling nomination forms on 17 December, and by Thursday afternoon, around 280 forms had been sold.
After the announcement, Patwary told TIMES of Bangladesh, “The Election Commission (EC) has not been able to create an electoral atmosphere so far.
“Although we thought the situation would improve after the announcement of the schedule, the opposite has happened in reality. JaPa still hopes the environment will improve. If it does not, we will consider alternatives.”
The organisational condition of JaPa, which backed the now-deposed Awami League government until the last day of its four consecutive terms, is now quite precarious. The party’s popularity has decreased exponentially, even in its stronghold regions of Rangpur and Rajshahi in northern Bangladesh.
In its published list, the party has not yet been able to field candidates for two constituencies in Rangpur division and 14 constituencies in Rajshahi division.
The party’s pitiable condition stems from the pressure it faces as an alleged accomplice of the fascist regime since the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August last year. There is also a case against Chairman GM Quader for alleged involvement in the July massacre.
The party’s central office in Kakrail, Dhaka, has been vandalised and attacked twice. Recently, JaPa has not been invited to any EC meetings.
On 29 August, Gono Odhikar Parishad President and former Ducsu Vice President Nurul Haq Nur was attacked at his office during a programme demanding a ban on JaPa.
Following this, most politically active parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP), reacted strongly, calling for JaPa to be banned.
Even before this, since the fall of the Awami League regime, these parties had been demanding a ban, labelling JaPa an “accomplice of the fascists and pro-India.” The BNP, however, did not directly take a stance in favour of a ban, opting instead for a strategic position.
Given these challenges and uncertainties, there was considerable doubt over whether JaPa would ultimately participate. Overcoming that, the party is now making a strong effort to field candidates in 300 constituencies.
Many had assumed JaPa would consider nominating individuals with a “clean image” from the Awami League or popular figures who did not hold positions in that party, alongside its own candidates.
On one hand, JaPa seeks to gain Awami League’s support overnight, and on the other, it seeks favour from neighbouring India. However, no such names were found in its candidate list.
Meanwhile, the party has received a message from the government that it will not be kept out of the election, to maintain the appearance of a participatory poll.
The reason is that Awami League activities are currently suspended, and it is out of the electoral race. Therefore, if JaPa is also excluded, the government could face questions at home and abroad regarding the election’s participatory nature.
BNP is also against keeping JaPa out of the polls, both as a strategy to pressure Jamaat and to question the election’s inclusivity. Thus, JaPa has entered the fray hoping to stay in the race, despite concerns about the coming days.
JaPa leaders believe that while there is no legal barrier to contesting so far, most political parties, including the NCP and Jamaat, are not positive about JaPa. Therefore, even if they begin campaigning, they will observe the situation before making subsequent decisions.
JaPa Presidium Member Haji Saifuddin Ahmed Milon told TIMES, “The situation is still not suitable for us to contest. Contesting now means a risk to life for candidates and activists. Even if we want to, we must wait to see if we can ultimately remain in the election.”
Meanwhile, a JaPa presidium member said on condition of anonymity, “If JaPa does not get a suitable environment, it could ultimately boycott the polls.”
JaPa, formed in 1986 by former president Hussain Muhammad Ershad, is now divided into six factions.
