Staff Reporter :
Jatiya Party is now sitting on the fence as to whether it will go with the Awami League alliance in the next parliamentary polls or not.
The party chairman GM Quader also said that Jatiya Party did not form any alliance with Awami League in the last general election, rather there were some election related understandings between the two parties to support each other.
“We want to talk in favour of the country and the people. If the Awami League government does good work, we may stand with them. But if they lose people’s trust, we may not stay with them,” he said while addressing as the Chief Guest in a delegation conference of the Hindu Mahajote in the Mahanagar Natyaman-cha in the capital on Friday.
Making their position clear that Jatiya Party has no alliance, he said, “We have no alliance. JP was not in any alliance with Awami League. We had some understanding with them regarding election. Our supporters helped them and they also helped us in the election. That’s why we have an amicable relationship with them.”
Criticising the Election Commission for their ‘hasty decision’ to introduce Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the next election, he said, “People don’t want any election through EVM. We are against it because this machine is a tool for peaceful rigging. If votes are held through EVM, there will be voting rigging.”
Regarding the election boycott under the Awami League government, he said, “We did not announce an election boycott. It is a hard decision. We will make a decision considering the ground reality. If it is necessary, such a decision will be taken in the party forum after considering people’s interest.”
Recently Jatiya Party has been experiencing several internal changes which has created a kind of division and anger in the party line.
The party has removed ailing Raushan Ershad from the post of opposition leader of the Parliament and GM Quader has been nominated for that post in the parliament. The incident created a fissure in the party.
In the latest development, JP removed Mashiur Rahman (Ranga) from all of its posts, including presidium membership, centering intra party feud. Such matter has also created a commotion in the party.
“If anybody wants to mar the party discipline, none will be spared,” GM Quader said, drawing attention of the party workers during the Friday’s conference.
Alleging the corruptions in various development projects, he said, “Mega projects are there for mega corruptions. The projects are not finished in time. As a result the cost increases and the chances of corruption also go up.”
Regarding money laundering, he said, “Around four billion dollars were laundered last year to the Swiss bank. As a result the country is going down the path of economic risk. The national budget is dependent on foreign loans. It also increases the risk.”
Urging the minority groups, he said Jatiya Party is always with the minority groups and their rights and lives should be defended as they are in trouble.
