Jatiya Party (JaPa) sees uncertainty over whether the 13th parliamentary election will be held as per the schedule announced by the government. Even so, the main faction of the party is preparing to take part in the election.
The party, led by GM Quader, believes the electoral system remains controlled, similar to the era under the deposed Awami League. If the election is held under the present circumstances, the party fears there will be no level playing field. As a result, there is doubt within the party about whether it will be able to stay in the race until polling day.
After supporting Awami League throughout its last four terms in power, JaPa is now organisationally fragile. Even in Rangpur and greater northern region, known as the party’s traditional stronghold, popularity has declined at a disappointing rate, party leaders said.
Under such circumstances, finding popular candidates in most constituencies has become difficult for the party. In addition, since the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August last year, JaPa has been under pressure as a perceived collaborator of an autocratic regime. GM Quader is facing several cases over alleged involvement in the July massacre in several police stations.
Even amid such challenges and doubts, JaPa has started working on nominating candidates for all 300 seats. More than 150 candidates have already been finalised, while the selection process continues for the remaining constituencies, according to party sources.
It is learned that the party is also open to nominating some popular figures from Awami League with a clean image and were not actively engaged in the party politics. The party plans to publish the full candidate list right after the announcement of the election schedule.
JaPa Chairman GM Quader believes there is uncertainty over whether the election will be held at the announced time. Even if the schedule is declared, he said, there remains doubt as to whether voting will actually take place.
“Even among the parties that are currently active and planning to contest the polls, sharp internal rifts are visible,” he told TIMES of Bangladesh Sunday.
He pointed out that the polls must be fair but if a rigged election is attempted, various forms of external pressure may appear and the election could collapse. “Even if voting occurs under the current quasi-democratic situation, it will not be fair. And if we go to the election, there is no guarantee that we will not face attacks,” he said, adding, “Since JaPa has not boycotted the election, we are preparing our candidate list.”
The party’s secretary general and other leaders are currently working to finalise nominations. Central leaders are touring districts to identify candidates, and a committee has been formed to assess candidate popularity.
According to JaPa sources, the party was sure that it will not be excluded from the election since the interim government needs to demonstrate a participatory poll. With Awami League temporarily barred from contesting, sidelining JaPa would invite domestic and international criticism regarding the inclusive nature of the election.
JaPa leaders believe that although no legal barrier currently prevents them from contesting, most political parties, including National Citizen Party (NCP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, are not positive toward them. For this reason, they intend not to publish candidate names prematurely and want to wait until law-and-order conditions become favourable ahead of the schedule announcement. The list is expected to be released within a week of the schedule.
JaPa, once third-largest party, is being highly strategic in its candidate selection this time. With Awami League temporarily banned, JaPa plans to attract its vote bank by nominating popular figures affiliated with the former ruling party. Apart from reserved strongholds of senior JaPa leaders, the candidate list is also expected to include Awami League–leaning professionals and businessmen. Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions have been identified as priority zones.
Many suggest that GM Quader had vocally defended Awami League over the ban issue, and he maintains communication with senior leaders of the fallen party. By nominating Awami League-backed candidates, JaPa expects to draw its vote base — as well as secure favour from neighbouring India.
Sources allege India does not want Awami League to be removed from the political landscape. There are accusations that attempts to block cases over the July massacre and assault on Nurul Haque Nur show the party gets influence of powerful allies.
When asked if JaPa will nominate Awami League members with clean reputations, JaPa presidium member Haji Saifuddin Ahmed Milon told TIMES, “If we find good candidates who are not involved in the massacre — no matter which party they are from — we will nominate them.”
However, another presidium member, wishing anonymity, stated, “If a suitable electoral environment does not emerge, JaPa may ultimately boycott the election.”
In the meantime, former co-chairman Anisul Islam Mahmud, Kazi Firoz Rashid, and former secretary-general Mujibul Haque Chunnu — who earlier split from JaPa — are now active again. Rumours suggest they may seek to return.
But GM Quader said, “They destroyed JaPa using the Awami League. There is no place for them to return.”
If these senior leaders are denied re-entry, sources say they may contest the election under an understanding with Anwar Hossain Manju’s faction of JaPa.
Founded in 1986 by former president Hussain Muhammad Ershad, JaPa has now splintered into six factions.
