Rangpur, Dec 29 (V7N) — Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Sunday said that although candidates from both the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Jatiya Party have already collected nomination papers, there is still room for electoral understanding at the local level, depending on political realities in individual constituencies.
Speaking to journalists at his Sky View residence in Rangpur city on Sunday night, GM Quader said that once nomination papers are formally submitted, forming alliances is no longer possible under election rules. However, he noted that mutual understandings could still take place. He said that in constituencies where the Jatiya Party has comparatively weaker candidates, it could consider supporting BNP candidates, while BNP could reciprocate in areas where the Jatiya Party has stronger contenders, provided such arrangements prove politically beneficial. He added that no formal discussions with the BNP have yet taken place.
GM Quader claimed that the Jatiya Party was the only political party that actively participated throughout the entire July movement and officially endorsed it through party resolutions. He alleged that despite this role, Jatiya Party candidates have been implicated in murder cases and sent to jail. According to him, there are concerns that bail may deliberately be denied to keep party candidates out of the election process, which he said would amount to a denial of justice and interference in the independence of the judiciary.
He further alleged that Jatiya Party candidates are being threatened with arrest in connection with July-related cases by both the administration and rival candidates. GM Quader said attempts to raise these issues with the Election Commission have been unsuccessful, claiming that the commission has not been giving time to the Jatiya Party while holding frequent meetings with other political parties.
The Jatiya Party chairman also expressed concern over what he described as an unusually complex nomination paper process in the current election. He warned that many new candidates may make unintentional errors while filling out the forms, potentially rendering them disqualified. He said there is apprehension that such technicalities could be used to justify the unlawful exclusion of Jatiya Party candidates from the race.
GM Quader stated that the party does not see a level playing field in the election and that its candidates are facing continuous harassment. Despite these challenges, he said the Jatiya Party has taken the election as a challenge and will continue to inform the public about any attempts to deprive it of its rights. He emphasized that public support remains the party’s greatest strength and expressed confidence that the people would ultimately respond to these issues.
Among those present at the briefing were Jatiya Party Co-Chairman Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa, Presidium Member SM Yasir, Vice Chairman Abdur Razzak, and Rangpur district Jatiya Party Convener Azmal Hossain Lebu, among others.
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