Jatiya Party (JaPa) Chairman GM Quader claimed on Friday that his party was “blackmailed” into joining elections under the Awami League's tenure, saying that their involvement was far from voluntary.
At an emergency press conference called at the Jatiya Party headquarters in Banani -- following an attack, vandalism and arson at their central office in Bijoynagar, Dhaka, a day before -- GM Quader explained that his party did not participate in elections spontaneously; it was through force.
He accused former prime minister Sheikh Hasina of "coercing" the Jatiya Party into participating, adding that they faced unfair treatment and political manipulation.
The conference was attended by JaPa Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu, among other senior party members.
GM Quader said: "We stood with students during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. We prayed for them after offering our prayers. But the BNP has plotted conspiracies over the movement."
He added: "We provided good governance. We did not engage in land grabbing. We pursued development and reforms. As a result, Ershad did not need bodyguards to move around."
The Jatiya Party chairman continued: "We are not receiving fair treatment. Despite numerous attempts to bury us politically, we have resurfaced. The place we hold in people's hearts cannot be destroyed by anyone. We receive no protection other than from Allah. We are being criminalized through conspiracy. We will stand with the people of the country, and the Jatiya Party will move forward.
"Those who have not even entered the arena are now criticizing us. They think if the Jatiya Party is destroyed, they will capture our votes. Their political maturity is lacking if they think this way."
On Thursday evening, a group of protesters under the banner of “Anti-Fascist Students, Workers, and People” marched past the Jatiya Party office, where an altercation broke out. Both sides later claimed that they had been attacked first. Bricks were thrown, and a fire was ignited, which the Fire Service subsequently extinguished.
Earlier, the protest group, led by former president of Chhatra Odhikar Parishad Bin Yamin Molla, had announced a torch rally from the Raju Memorial Sculpture at Dhaka University to Bijoynagar, declaring their intention to “encircle” the Jatiya Party office in opposition to “the political actions and alleged conspiracies of the Awami League and Jatiya Party.”
Around 7pm, Hasnat Abdullah, one of the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, posted on Facebook, claiming that JaPa members attacked demonstrators in Bijoynagar and were “displaying weapons.”
He called for the removal of what he described as “national traitors.” A second post by Hasnat announced a march to Bijoynagar at 8:30pm to “eliminate these traitors.”
Around 7:30pm, Sarjis Alam, another coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, made a similar post, saying: "We are heading towards Bijoynagar with a march from the Raju Sculpture."
By 8:15pm, the lower floor of the Jatiya Party office was seen ablaze, which was later extinguished by the Fire Service.