Jatiya Party (JaPa) leaders have said they will decide their next steps after observing the reactions to recent attacks, especially from other political parties.
The party is under significant pressure, and its leaders are concerned about its ability to continue in politics.
The office of the chief adviser has indicated that no decision has been made to ban any political party in the country.
However, the Anti-Discrimination Student and Worker Movements have demanded the party be banned, labeling it as an “ally of Awami fascism.”
Abdul Hannan Masud, chief organizer of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, said: "We believe a ban will come through a judicial process. But before that, we have urged the government to suspend the activities of the Jatiya Party."
On Thursday night, the Jatiya Party’s office in Kakrail, Dhaka, was attacked and set on fire.
Initially, party members managed to fend off the attack, but at around 8:30pm, two coordinators arrived with students and announced another round of attacks, during which the fire department was not allowed to extinguish the blaze, and the police remained inactive.
The Jatiya Party canceled its planned rally in Kakrail on Saturday due to police restrictions.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Discrimination Student and Worker Movement held rallies in other parts of the city, demanding the Jatiya Party’s ban.
Masud clarified: "We do not support the attacks. However, the coordinators who went there and posted on Facebook are part of our movement. They were fighting the accomplices of authoritarian fascism, and surrounding the office was part of the movement. We don’t endorse the fire or the attacks, and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has no connection to the incidents before 8:30pm."
When asked whether the Jatiya Party would be banned, Masud responded: “It is up to the people of this country to decide. They will face justice. However, we have requested the government to suspend their activities before the trial concludes.”
Azad Mozumder, deputy press secretary to the chief adviser, said: “There is no decision to ban any political party, and no party has been banned. Only a student organization has been banned.”
What are political parties saying?
Ruhin Hossain Prince, general secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), said: “The Jatiya Party is an authoritarian party born through authoritarian means, and it has supported authoritarianism. The people of this country will decide whether they can continue in politics or not.”
He added: “Our constitution guarantees the right to assemble and hold meetings. It does not mean any party will be banned or denied the right to participate in politics.”
Regarding the attack on the Jatiya Party office, he said: “It was a fascist attack. The deliberate attack and arson of a political office are unacceptable. Such actions will harm the democratic movement.”
Nurul Haque Nur, head of the Gono Odhikar Parishad, said: “We do not support any kind of attack, violence, or mob justice. There is a government in place, and such actions could lead to anarchy. It should be investigated whether the Jatiya Party orchestrated the attack themselves.”
He added: “We demand a ban on those who were accomplices and allies of Awami fascism.”
During a discussion in Dhaka, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said: “BNP does not support the banning of any political party. Unnecessary issues are being created to destabilize the country. Various conspiracies surround Bangladesh, and the people must be vigilant against them.”
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also called on all parties, including the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, to refrain from vandalizing any political party’s office.
BNP Vice Chairman Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon said: “I do not consider the Jatiya Party a legitimate political party. It was born and later allied itself with authoritarianism. I would call the incident at their office a clash between two groups, instigated by the Jatiya Party. I think the police made the right decision in prohibiting their rally on Saturday.”
What is Jatiya Party thinking?
Despite being invited to a meeting with the army chief on August 5, the Jatiya Party was not called to any subsequent discussions with the chief adviser after the formation of the interim government. Even the 13 allies of the Awami League were not invited.
Some Jatiya Party leaders, while emphasizing respect for the law, indicated that they are observing the situation.
They mentioned that they would determine their future course of action based on the reactions to the attack, particularly from other political parties.
Barrister Shamim Haider Patwary, additional secretary general of the Jatiya Party, said: “We participated in the elections, so it cannot be that we will be banned just because students demand it. The constitution and the law clearly outline who can organize and form political parties. Organizations can be banned for terrorism or militant activities, but the Jatiya Party is not a terrorist organization.”
He continued: “The police and administration failed to act against the attackers on our office. Immediate action should have been taken by the government. We filed a complaint, but the police have not yet accepted it.”
He added: “The attack was announced, so it’s clear who was responsible. The government can take action against them if it wants to.”
Shamim Haider Patwary concluded: “The Jatiya Party will continue its democratic political activities. Banning or attacking us will only create chaos and yield no positive outcome.”
