Leaders of the Jatiya Party (JaPa) have expressed disappointment at being excluded from Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s regular dialogues with political parties, stating their desire to support the interim government with reforms.
On the afternoon of August 5, as ousted Sheikh Hasina was leaving for India amid a mass uprising, three senior leaders of the Jatiya Party met with the Army Chief alongside other political leaders at the Army Headquarters. That evening, Jatiya Party leaders also participated in a meeting with President Mohammad Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban, where they agreed to form an interim government with other political parties.
After Dr. Muhammad Yunus took office as Chief Adviser, he met with nearly every political party at that time, including the Jatiya Party. However, they have since been excluded from ongoing discussions on reforms, despite invitations being sent to almost all major political parties.
Government sources indicated that the Jatiya Party's exclusion from recent discussions was due to objections raised by student leaders involved in the July-August mass uprising. Jatiya Party leaders had anticipated an invitation but were ultimately left out, leading to their expressions of disappointment. They asserted that they were not allies of the Awami League and had supported the anti-discrimination student movement.
On Saturday, the Chief Adviser held discussions with several political entities, including Gono Forum, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Jatiyatabadi Samomona Jote, Jatiya Mukti Council, Labour Party, and the Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), regarding reforms, elections, and current issues.
Jatiya Party Chairman’s Statement
Speaking with the Dhaka Tribune, Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader stated, “From the beginning, we have raised our voices against discrimination, including during the quota reform movement. Our leaders and activists from Rangpur and other areas actively participated in the anti-discriminatory movement.”
He added, “It is regrettable that we are now being labeled as allies of the fascist Awami League. But who is labeling us? I believe they have been misguided by certain quarters.” Quader emphasized that people should understand how the Jatiya Party was compelled to participate in the recent elections alongside the Awami League. He reassured that the party's door is always open for discussions and is ready to explain its role with facts and evidence.
In response to a query, GM Quader said, “If the interim government believes they need input from our party, we are always ready to engage in discussions, as the Jatiya Party is one of the largest parties in the country and has previously enacted significant reforms in Bangladesh.”
Interim Government’s Perspective
According to government sources, the Jatiya Party has been perceived as an ally of the Awami League throughout its 15 years in power. Jatiya Party leaders occasionally held cabinet positions and were part of the government, leading to their characterization as a “domestic pet,” even while functioning as the opposition in parliament.
Mahfuz Alam, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, explained to the media why the Jatiya Party was excluded from discussions with Dr. Muhammad Yunus. He stated, “The Jatiya Party acted as a silent supporter of Awami fascism. By participating in the illegitimate election, they conferred a degree of legitimacy upon it. Therefore, we are not considering the Jatiya Party at this time.”
He added, “The government is carefully assessing their position. Any decisions will be made after further discussions and evaluations with other political parties. The government will not act unilaterally. The fact that the Jatiya Party was allied with those who endorsed genocide and opposed the masses was conveyed to other political parties by the government.”
Jatiya Party's Electoral History Since 1996
Founded by former President Hussain Muhammad Ershad, the Jatiya Party has participated in every election since its inception. In the 1996 national parliamentary election, Ershad supported the Awami League in forming a government. In 1999, the Jatiya Party withdrew support from the Awami League and allied with the BNP. They later left the BNP alliance and rejoined the Awami League in 2006 as part of the Mohajot coalition.
In the 2008 election, the Awami League allocated 29 seats for the Jatiya Party, with senior leader GM Quader being appointed to the cabinet. In the 2015 election, neither the BNP nor the Jatiya Party, led by Ershad, participated, though a faction led by Rowshan Ershad did, securing 34 seats and 3 ministerial posts, positioning them as the opposition.
In the 2018 election, the Awami League allocated 27 seats for the Jatiya Party, which won 22. After Ershad’s death in 2019, GM Quader became Jatiya Party Chairman and began criticizing the Awami League both in the streets and in parliament. Although he had previously declared that the Jatiya Party would not participate in the January 7, 2024, national election, his stance softened after visiting India. The Jatiya Party participated, securing 26 seats from the Awami League but winning only 11.
At the start of the anti-quota student movement, GM Quader and other party leaders publicly supported the movement and advocated for its cause.
Jatiya Party to Hold Press Conference Today
After being excluded from government discussions, Jatiya Party leaders and activists held demonstrations in Rangpur on Saturday. During a presidium meeting, party leaders expressed that they have become victims of discrimination despite supporting the anti-discriminatory movement.
Today (Monday), Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader will hold a press conference at the party’s Banani office to publicly clarify the party’s position in light of the recent situation.