The Jatiya Party (Raushon)-led faction on Tuesday exhorted all groupings within the party to band together for a stronger showing on the country’s unstable political landscape.
“Responsible leaders of all factions must take effective steps to this end without any delay. Otherwise, the nation won’t forgive them,” JP secretary general Kazi Mohammad Mamunur Rashid told reporters at a briefing at Segunbagicha in the capital.
A leading role will be played in uniting all factions of the party within the next 15 days, he said.
Former military dictator Hussain Muhammad Ershad founded Jatiya Party in the early 1980s. After his downfall in 1990, the party split into several groups.
Kazi Mamun said the existing crisis of JP leaders and activists across the country must be resolved to seize the opportunities lurking ahead.
“By evaluating the events of the July uprising and considering the ideal thinking of the new generation, the upcoming general election must reflect on the hopes and aspirations of the people.”
The JP leader called on those leaders, who have used Jatiya Party as a shield, to take an initiative for unity within the specified time.
“If they fail, grass-roots leaders and activists will take steps to uphold the ideals of the party’s founder Ershad,” he continued.
He was highly critical of the attack on the former president’s house in Rangpur.
“Jatiya Party believes that those who won victory through a bloody struggle deserve the nation’s respect… But the attack was carried out due to one individual’s arrogance and exaggerated speech,” uttered Kazi Mamun.
Responding to a query, he said the party would field 300 candidates to contest the 13th parliamentary election.
“Bangladesh army must play a direct role in the next election. The entire nation had been deprived of voting for the last 17 years. There is no alternative to the army in holding the polls in a free and fair manner.”
Senior JP leaders, including Shafiqul Islam Shafik, Nigar Sultana Rani, Khandaker Moniruzzaman Titu, Jamal Rana, Amanullah Aman, Salauddin Tarun and Rifatul Islam Pavel, among others, were also present at the briefing.