Fresh unrest has surfaced within the Jatiya Party (JaPa), the political party founded by the late former president Hussain Muhammad Ershad.
Internal leadership disputes, disagreements over the party constitution, and growing mistrust have raised the question: Is the Jatiya Party heading for yet another split? Speculation intensified particularly after the expulsion of three senior leaders.
Recently, Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader removed Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu, Senior Co-Chairman Anisul Islam Mahmud, and Co-Chairman ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader from their positions in the party.
The expelled leaders and their supporters have termed this decision “illegal, undemocratic, and unconstitutional.” They claim they still hold their positions and have no intention of leaving the Jatiya Party.
In a statement to the media, GM Quader said that during the party's exchange of views meeting on June 25 and the Presidium meeting on June 28, accusations of breaching party discipline were raised against Chunnu, Anisul, and Howlader. Based on the Presidium’s decision, they were relieved of all party responsibilities, including their primary memberships.
To clarify their stance on the expulsion, the three leaders held a press conference yesterday.
At the event, Anisul Islam Mahmud said: "The Presidium meeting on the 28th lacked a quorum and was not convened according to the constitution. Any decisions taken based on such an illegitimate meeting are unlawful and void. We remain in our respective posts, and all decisions must come from the party council."
Criticizing GM Quader, Ruhul Amin Howlader accused him of misusing the constitution, making unilateral decisions, and running the party like a family enterprise. “We built this party with our sweat, and now we are being removed. Is this how politics is done? This feels more like a love letter than a political decision!” he said.
Another senior leader, Kazi Firoz Rashid, remarked: “You can't run a political party like you run a family. You can run a company alone, but not a political party. A party can't function under leadership that needs India’s permission to speak.”
The recently ousted Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu commented: “As secretary general, I have always worked loyally under the chairman. If he didn’t like me, he could have just told me. There was no need to remove me.”
Shamim Haider Patwary, who has taken over as the new secretary general, told reporters: "Whatever happens in the Jatiya Party will be in accordance with the constitution. In the future, we will see a stronger and more united Jatiya Party."
The Jatiya Party has faced splits several times before.
The first split came after the fall of Ershad’s government during the 1990 mass uprising, when Shamsul Huda Chowdhury and Dr MA Matin formed a faction.
The party split again in 1997 under Anwar Hossain Manju and Sheikh Shahidul Islam, then a third time in 1998 led by Kazi Zafar and Shah Moazzem.
The party split for a fourth time in 2001 under the leadership of Naziur Rahman, and again for a fifth time during a special council on December 20, 2013.
The most recent, sixth split occurred on March 9, 2024, following the death of the party’s founder Ershad.
After Ershad's passing, a power struggle emerged over the chairmanship between his younger brother GM Quader, who was named chairman in Ershad’s will, and his widow Rowshan Ershad.
Rowshan declared herself chairperson and formed a separate committee, appointing Kazi Mamunur Rashid as secretary general.
Party founder Hussain Muhammad Ershad passed away on July 14, 2019. He had seized power from President Justice Abdus Sattar in 1982 when he was the army chief under the BNP-led government.
Ershad ruled Bangladesh for nine consecutive years until 1990.
Ershad was involved in politics until his death and, due to several interesting moves, Jatiya Party was labelled as the unpredictable party when Ershad was alive. Even after his death, his brother and wife both carried on that political character of the party.
After the fall of the Awami League regime on August 5, a group of student leaders who actively participated in the July–August 2024 mass uprising attacked and vandalized the JaPa office, accusing the party of being an ally of the “fascist Awami League.”
Some time after the incident, JaPa is now attempting to re-enter the political scene amid ongoing discussions about the next national parliamentary election.
According to party insiders, several senior Jatiya Party leaders are currently trying to form a new pressure group within the party, bypassing current Chairman GM Quader. In response, Quader has expelled three senior leaders, including his close ally and secretary general, Mujibul Haque Chunnu.
It remains to be seen whether JaPa will split into two or more factions—one led by GM Quader, and another by Anisul Islam Mahmud or other expelled senior leaders.
