Internal rifts within the Jatiya Party (JaPa) have come to the fore once again in the wake of the 12th national election. A dispute over the nomination of MPs for the reserved women’s seats has reignited long standing conflicts among senior leaders — many of whom proposed their wives and daughters as candidates.
Multiple presidium members at the party chairman’s office in Banani told this correspondent that, considering JaPa’s seat count in the last parliament, only two women could be nominated to reserved seats this time. However, lobbying for seats had become heated, with Presidium member Syed Abu Hossain Babla’s wife Salma Hossain, Kazi Firoz Rashid’s daughter Shanta Rashid, and ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader’s daughter Farah Binte Amin all seeking nominations. Party chairman GM Quader eventually chose his adviser — and wife — Sherifa Quader, along with party vice-chair Noor Nahar.
The chairman’s decision upset senior figures, as multiple high-profile leaders had hoped to secure spots for their family members. Adding fuel to the fire was the existing factional rift between opposition leader Rowshan Ershad and GM Quader, with the three disappointed aspirants rallying behind Ershad in an effort to deepen the split.
Despite losing the Dhaka-18 seat as a JaPa candidate in the 12th national election, Sherifa Quader was also awarded one of the coveted reserved seats, further inflaming the party’s internal disputes.
Rowshan faction leader Kazi Firoz Rashid told the Times of Bangladesh on Sunday: “I myself did not contest the last election. I even advised my daughter not to participate. It is ridiculous to say that I lobbied for my daughter to get a reserved seat.”
Ruhul Amin Hawlader denied any intent to send his daughter to parliament, saying, “My daughter doesn’t do politics; she just supports my family’s work.”
Syed Abu Hossain Babla also dismissed rumors of wanting his wife in Parliament, stating: “That is a blatant lie. The party is my top priority — not my family.”
Meanwhile, political tension has been mounting around the party’s upcoming council. According to JaPa sources, Anisul Islam Mahmud and Ruhul Amin Hawlader plan to hold their council at the central party office in Topkhana on June 28. However, supporters of GM Quader and Mujibul Haque Chunnu have threatened to block the event.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police confirmed that no political party would be allowed to hold rallies without DMP permission. “As of now, Jatiya Party has not been granted any such permission for its council,” a DMP spokesperson said.