Jatiya Party (JaPa), the main opposition party in parliament, on Monday finalized its list of candidates for 289 constituencies for the January 7 election.
JaPa Secretary General Md Mujibul Haque Chunnu announced the names at a press briefing attended by top leaders of the party at the Banani office of the party’s chairman.
Party Chairperson GM Quader will contest the polls from Dhaka-17 and Rangpur-3 seats, and his wife Sharifa Quader will contest from Dhaka-18.
Besides, Salim Osman has received the nomination for the Narayanganj-5 constituency.
However, the party has kept the Mymensingh-4 seat vacant for Raushan Ershad. She is backing her son, Saad Ershad, to run for the Rangpur-3 seat.
Though the announcement of the candidates’ names was scheduled for after 4pm, it was delayed by one and a half hours.
Chunnu said the party has many devoted leaders who have made sacrifices for the party. Again, many new ones are eligible; it becomes difficult to select from among them. That is why a finalization of the list was delayed.
Prior to the announcement, the expelled leaders and followers of Raushan Ershad gathered in front of the office.
They expressed their anger and chanted slogans against GM Quader.
They claimed that the party did not provide a proper place for the dedicated leaders. Due to the dispute, leaders and activists of Raushan Ershad are being excluded from the party even though they are eligible to get nominations.
Earlier, the party began selling nomination papers on November 20 at a price of Tk30,000 each for the upcoming polls.
JaPa co-chairman and Rangpur City Corporation Mayor Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa told Dhaka Tribune that local leaders of the party want to see GM Quader run for Rangpur-3. District JaPa General Secretary Abdur Razzak echoed Mostafizar on the issue.
Senior leaders of the party told this correspondent that GM Quader has chosen the Rangpur-3 constituency for himself as he is confident of winning there.
Sources further indicate that Raushan may secure an appointment with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina this week amid the ongoing rift in the party. GM Quader has also sought an appointment with the PM.
