Jatiya Party (JP) is participating in the next parliamentary elections without its founder military dictator HM Ershad for the first time.

Before his demise in 2019, Ershad and his party played a pivotal role in national politics. Many leaders of JP joined other parties and many leaders formed new political parties. But the Jaitya Party never lost its importance or role in the country’s politics. Two months later after handing over power due to a massive mass movement against his regime in 1990, Ershad bagged five seats from prison and came back to politics strongly. In the absence of Ershad, this time, JP is participating in the forthcoming national elections slated on January 7, led by his brother GM Quader.    

Party insiders said JP wants a minimum of 50 constituencies from the ruling party where no Awami League or its rebel candidates would vie. Central leaders of the party are in a firm position about seat consensus. The party’s high-ups are worried about seat distribution with the Awami League, although they have participated in the last three national polls with an alliance and making seat compromises with the ruling party. They now want seat consensus before December 17, the last date of withdrawal of the candidacy. 

Several sources at the Jatiya Party informed Bangladesh Pratidin that JP central leaders are sitting with the Awami League about seat distribution. In the latest meeting held on Wednesday (December 6), JP handed over a list of 45 candidates to the ruling party. The party hopes to get 35-40 constituencies from the Awami League.

Party insiders said despite regular meetings with the Awami League, there is no solution has come yet. Both parties are maintaining a high secret policy over the issue. Awami League wants to give priority to the activist-friendly JP leaders, especially, those who have built strong positions in their respective seats, to make the elections meaningful. In this situation, most of the JP lawmakers are passing days with worry about getting a nomination.    

Out of 22 JP current lawmakers, 9 parliamentarians have given time to the respective constituencies regularly. They have formed a personal follower group and made the party strong. Of them, Syed Abu Hossain Babla made his position strong in the Dhaka-4 constituency. Liyakot Hossain Khoka has done massive development work in the Narayanganj-3 constituency. A total of 176 union parishad members have been elected from the Jatiya Party. Party office has been established in 150 wards in Narayanganj. Golam Kibria Tipu defeated the Awami League candidate in the last parliamentary polls from the Barisal-3 constituency. He has formed several organisations at the grassroots level. Saad Ershad has huge popularity in the Rangpur-3 constituency despite his little presence. Party chairman QM Quader has played a role indirectly to make it stronger. Besides, Rangpur City Corporation Mayor Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa is always active in making the party activists vibrant in this seat.  Shamim Haider Patwary is familiar with an eloquent and travels his constituency Gaibandha-1 regularly. Jatiya Party Co-Chairman Advocate Salma Islam is also a familiar face to her seat Dhaka-1. Her late husband Jamuna Group chairman Nurul Islam Babul did massive development work in the Dhaka-1 constituency. She would even participate in the election if the Awami League candidate is not withdrawn. Ponir Uddin Ahmed has huge popularity in Kurigram-2 constituency. Young leader Pir Fazlur Rahman Misbah has made a stronghold in his Sunamganj-4 seat. JP Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu is very popular with the people of his constituency in Kishoreganj. Former secretary general ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader has also huge popularity and personal followers in the Patuakhali-1 constituency. Besides, he has acceptability to the party leaders and activists as a former secretary general. His spouse Ratna Amin Hawlader is a lawmaker of the Barisal-6 constituency. She also travels her seat frequently.   

Some JP leaders out of current lawmakers have also made strong positions in their respective constituencies. Despite such a strong position of JP candidates, leaders of the party don’t want to vie against the boat symbol or Awami League’s independent candidates. They said they won’t win against Boat or Awami League’s rival candidates for various reasons.

@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on December 11, 2023 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.