Jatiya Party
US visa policy to help Bangladesh hold fair elections: GM Quader
Jatiya Party chairman Ghulam Muhammad Quader on Tuesday said that the new US visa policy for Bangladesh will be helpful in holding the next general election in a free, fair and credible manner.
"The United States expects free, fair and neutral elections in Bangladesh. What is said in the visa policy, all goes in favour Bangladesh and its people", Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament told reporters at the circuit house in the town before attending the bi-annual conference of Sherpur district unit of the party.
Also Read: Fair election not possible in current system: GM Quader
"We can’t expect a free, fair and impartial election under the current government. This needs to be changed. But we need consensus on the kind of change through discussion with all parties. So we (Jatiya Party) support the US visa policy," he added.
GM Quader said everyone wants free and fair elections. "We haven't received any proposal regarding the election-time government from anywhere yet. However, we are working for the welfare of the people of the country. How we will participate in the next election will be discussed later and decided," he added.
Also Read: People have no confidence in country’s electoral system: GM Quader
Central leaders, including Jatiya Party Co-Chairman ABM Ruhul Amin Howladar, Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu, Member of Parliament Kazi Firoz Rashid, Presidium Member Mostafa Al Mahmud, were also present.
Later, GM Quader and Jatiya Party leaders addressed the bi-annual conference of the district Jatiya Party at Shaheed Minar premises in the Chawkbazar center of the town.
Also Read: Assault on on-duty journalists an unpardonable crime: GM Quader
Khulna city polls: Jatiya Party's mayor candidate says agents barred from entering polling stations
Jatiya Party (Ershad)-backed mayoral candidate Md Shafiqul Islam Madhu has alleged that his agents are being barred from entering polling centres by supporters of Awami League (AL) candidate as Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election is underway.
He made the allegation while talking to the media after casting his vote at the Collegiate School centere, under ward 17 in Sonadanga Residential Area of Khulna city, around 10:30 am.
Also Read: Khulna, Barishal city polls: Voting begins amid much enthusiasm, long queues of voters
Expressing doubts about a fair election, the Jatiya Party-backed candidate said that a fair election under the current government is not possible, UNB's Barishal correspondent reported from the spot.
He said the process to vote was slow at the polling stations, and the environment was not festive.
Asked about his next course of action, Md Shafiqul Islam said, “I will officially inform you (journalists) about my stance after visiting a few more centres."
Voting in the KCC election began at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm without any break. Electronic voting machines are being used at all the centres to take votes.
Also Read: Barishal city polls: Clash between AL, Islami Andolon supporters leaves several injured
Five candidates are vying for the mayoral post, 136 for councillors in 29 general wards, and 30 for reserved seats.
Awami League-backed candidate Talukder Abdul Khaleque cast his vote at Pioneer Secondary Girls School centre on the city’s South Central Road around 9:10 am.
After voting, the mayoral candidate said the election is being held in a free, fair manner.
Also Read: Barishal city polls: Voters being barred from coming to polling stations, say 2 mayoral candidates
“I will accept whatever result coming from the voters,” he said, hoping that people will vote for him for continuation of the development.
Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) are carrying out their duty to ensure security in the KCC election along with 8,080 members from police, Ansar and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
Petition filed to bar GM Quader from performing duties as JaPa chief
A petition has been filed with the Supreme Court seeking a stay on a High Court order that cleared the way for GM Quader to perform duties as the Chairman of Jatiya Party (JaPa).
Lawyer Mohammad Sayeed Ahmed Raza, on behalf of Ziaul Haque Mridha submitted the petition on Thursday requesting the apex court to prohibit GM Quader from performing party activities.
The chamber judge of the Appellate Division of the SC may hold a hearing of the petition on Sunday, advocate Sayeed Ahmed Raza said.
Earlier on Sunday (Feb 5), the High Court cleared the way for GM Quader to perform duties as the Chairman of Jatiya Party (JaPa).
The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the temporary embargo on performing duties by GM Quader should not be cancelled.
The Appellate Division on December 14 last year upheld the verdict of a lower court that barred GM Quader from performing his duties as the Chairman of Jatiya Party (JaPa).
The Appellate Division bench also asked Dhaka Joint District Judge’s Court to quickly dispose of the petition filed by Quader against its verdict that prevented him from acting as JaPa chief.
Read more: Criticizing govt can never be seditious: GM Quader
Following the rejection, GM Quader filed a revision petition against the court order.
On November 30 last year, Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division M Enayetur Rahim stayed the High Court order allowing Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader to perform the duties of his post.
On November 29, 2022, the HC cleared the way for GM Quader to perform his duties as Jatiya Party Chairman by staying the lower court embargo till January 3 following a revision petition.
Ziaul Haque Mridha filed the case against GM Quader on October 4.
On October 30, last year, Dhaka Joint District Sessions Judge court-1 issued a temporary embargo on the political activities of Quader.
Quader declared himself as chairman of the party through forgery at a council on December 28, 2019 when a writ petition case was pending at the High Court.
Row breaks out in JS over ruling party MP's jibe at Ershad
The atmosphere in Parliament became very heated for some time over an apparently derogatory remark by a ruling party MP on Jatiya Party founder and ex. president, late HM Ershad.
Ruling party MP from Lalmonirhat Motahar Hossain, while speaking at the thanksgiving motion on President’s speech, claimed that Ershad lost his security money in the January 5, 2014 election against him.
His comments created anarchy in the House for some time.
Jatiya Party MP Firoz Rashid stood and started to speak without the microphone and protested what he called the ‘derogatory remark’ from the ruling party MP.
At one stage Deputy Speaker Shamshul Huq Tuku, who was in the chair, asked him to sit down and wait to be given the floor.
But Rashid did not stop and at that time shouting from different directions was heard in the House.
Motahar, who still had the mic, asked how Rashid expects to speak while another MP is speaking.
Deputy Speaker at that time turned off all microphones, and gave the floor to Firoz Rashid for one minute.
The Jatiya Party MP accused Motahar of lying.
“His (Motahar Hossain) speech should be expunged and he should seek apology,” he said.
Opposition Chief Whip Mashiur Rahman Ranga also threatened to leave the House, shouting without the mic.
Deputy Speaker asked him to sit down and speak later on point of order. But Ranga did not pay heed to him and continued shouting.
Read more: Parliament now a one-party club: Fakhrul
At that stage, deputy speaker assured him that if there is anything objectionable it will be expunged.
He also asked Motahar to stick to the agenda and gave the microphone back to him.
At this point, speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was seen to enter the House hurriedly and taking her seat.
She asked for calm and all to sit down.
“There is a decorum in the House, now discussion on the President’s speech is going on, one person is speaking, if there are any objectionable words in that speech you can raise that and it will be expunged after scrutiny. For that you have to wait for sometime,” she said.
She gave the floor to Motahar Hossain, and now he claimed that he did not say anything untrue.
Standing on point of order, Firoz Rashid said that it is indecent to say anything derogatory against a dead person.
“Mr Motahar should know that Mr Ershad never suffered defeat in the land of Rangpur,” he said.
He also said that Ershad did not participate in the 2014 election.
“There is no one in Rangpur who can inflict a defeat on Mr Ershad in Rangpur where he loses his security money, in any election. There should be a limit of audacity, we demand full expunge of this speech, otherwise he will face problems in the land of Rangpur,” he said.
Read more: 21st Parliament session to continue till Feb 9
In the controversial 2014 election, Motahar got 189,814 votes in Lalmonirhat-1 constituency while Ershad got 5381 votes. Lalmonirhat is in Rangpur division.
Opposition MP rails against inclusion of Darwin's theory in textbook
An opposition Jatiya Party MP on Monday heavily criticised the government for inclusion of Darwin’s theory of evolution in a new class 7 textbook.
Golam Kibria Tipu, lawmaker from Barishal-3, while participating in the thanksgiving motion on the President Abdul Hamid’s speech in parliament said it is an anti-religious propaganda that humans 'came from monkeys'.
“As Muslims we are children of Adam. There is no chance of being monkeys. It is an insult to Islam. A blasphemy law should be enacted in this regard,” he said.
The JP MP in his speech demanded that the government form a commission for finding out who was behind inclusion of such controversial topics in the textbook.
“We saw Darwin’s theory. Humans came from monkeys. This is an anti-religious propaganda. They hurt Islam. We are Muslims. We believe that we are children of Adam. Blasphemy law should be enacted in this country.”
Read more: NCTB gives corrections for 9 mistakes in 3 textbooks of new curriculum
The MP from the opposition party also said that Germany has a blasphemy law.
“If necessary, we can shortcut that blasphemy law to be applicable in our country. Those who are involved in anti-religious activities should be prosecuted under this blasphemy law. Otherwise there will be anarchy in the country.”
He also said that no devout Muslim could accept this.
“I don't know whether the government hears such sentiment (of people against Darwin’s theory). We go out and listen to what people say about human beings coming from monkeys. People are very aggrieved, the situation is like volcanoes. This has hurt every Muslim.”
The JP MP said this was done deliberately to put the government in a controversial position.
Chunnu wants finance minister's view on reported corruption of MPs, WASA MD
Speaking in parliament, Jatiya Party MP Mujibul Haque Chunnu on Sunday placed a question for Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on whether news published in different media recently about overseas property and assets owned by Bangladeshis, including MPs, is true or false.
He also demanded that the government investigate these matters. Chunnu was speaking on a point of order.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, however, was not present in the house.
Chunnu said news was published that the WASA MD owns 23 houses in USA. Such questions are coming about two members of parliament as well.
"I request the finance minister to tell us whether all these news are true or not. Because our foreign minister said earlier that there are many bureaucrats among those who are making their homes in Begum Para in Canada. There should be an inquiry into all these things. These allegations should be resolved,” Chunnu said.
Also read: JP’s Rustum Ali Faraji blasts Finance Minister for his silence on state of economy
Urging the finance minister to open his mouth on these issues, Chunnu said that different media are publishing such news ahead of the next election which is tarnishing the image of the government as well as their (JP's) image as the opposition party.
The JP MP said such news is sending the wrong message among the people of the country that MPs and ministers earn hundreds of crores of taka and making houses in From in home and abroad.
He said the finance minister should open his mouth about this.
The Finance Ministry along with the Bangladesh Bank should conduct an investigation and make a clear statement on the matter, he added.
AL candidate Ripon wins Gaibandha-5 by-election
Awami League-backed candidate Mahmud Hasan Ripon unofficially won the by-election to Gaibandha-5, held peacefully today (January 04, 2023).
Ripon won the election by defeating Jatiya Party-backed candidate AHM Golam Shaheed Ranju with a margin of 33,533 votes.
The winning candidate bagged a total of 78,285 votes with the boat symbol while Ranju got 44,752 votes with the plough symbol.
The other candidates of the by-election were Bikalpa Dhara candidate Advocate Jahangir Alam and independent candidate Syed Mahbubur Rahman.
Read more: Gaibandha-5 by-polls: Festive mood as voting underway
Voting started at 8 am and continued till 4:30 pm. No untoward incident was reported.
The election was monitored from Dhaka through a total of 1,242 CCTV cameras while it ended with only a 35 percent turnout.
The constituency consists of Saghata and Phulchhari upazilas.
On October 12 last year, the Election Commission (EC) suspended the by-election due to “rampant irregularities” on the election day and later the commission fixed January 4 for holding the polls.
Read more: Gaibandha-5 by-election held in a disciplined environment: CEC
Following the death of Gaibandha-5 lawmaker and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Fazle Rabbi Miah on July 22, 2022, it became a constitutional obligation to hold election for the parliamentary seat by October 20, 2022. Accordingly it was scheduled for October 12.
A three-member committee was formed to look into the election irregularities on October 12 last year.
Following the recommendations of the committee, the Election Commission took punitive actions against 133 officials including an additional deputy commissioner, five sub-inspectors and returning officer of the election.
Read More: No irregularities reported yet in Gaibandha by-election: EC Rashida.
Quader promises major remedial steps as AL smarts from polling debacles
The ruling party Awami League (AL) faced a major setback going into election year 2023 in the latest round of municipal and union parishad elections - most notably in Rangpur.
Bagha in Rajshahi, Birol in Dinajpur, Boda in Panchagarh, Alfadanga in Faridpur and Bonpara in Natore, on December 29.
The AL-backed candidates were defeated in Bagha and Alfadanga.
In 66 union parishad (UP) elections, independent candidates, many of them AL 'rebels', bagged more votes.
Two days earlier, Jatiya Party-backed candidate won the Rangpur City Corporation election held on December 27.
Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa, candidate of the Jatiya Party was re-elected with 1,46,798 votes for the post of mayor. What was shocking was that the Awami League candidate, Hosne Ara Lutfa (Dahlia), finished not second, not third, but fourth with 22,306 votes.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said major organisational steps will be taken within a week after the failures of Awami League-backed candidates in Rangpur City Corporation elections.
He was speaking with the media at the secretariat on Thursday.
Quader said, “We did not interfere in the Rangpur election. We didn't try to move on. We are taking measures where there is weakness.”
Regarding the election in municipalities and union parishads, he said, “It is a local government election. There are many things. Jatiya Party candidate was also ahead there.”
Read more: Internal problems behind defeat of AL candidate in RCC election: Quader
“We are taking major organisational measures regarding Rangpur polls within a week. The game will be played in the national elections.”
In Rajshahi’s Bagha municipality election, AL 'rebel' Akkas Ali, standing independent, was unofficially elected as the Mayor after getting a total of 12,033 votes, which is 5,846 votes more than the AL candidate Shahinur Rahman Pintu.
In Faridpur’s Alfadanga, only one AL-backed candidate has been able to win the election, while three others have lost to rebel and autonomous candidates. Autonomous candidate Md Ali Aksad has been elected as Mayor of Alfadanga municipality after bagging a total of 4,942 votes, while AL-backed candidate Md Saifur Rahman got only 3,660 votes.
In Panchagarh, AL-backed candidate Azahar Ali has won the Boda municipality election after getting a total of 6,740 votes, while autonomous candidate Akhtar Hossain Hasan clinched 3,597 votes.
In Natore, Al-backed candidates have been able to win two municipality and union parishad elections while an independent candidate has won another union parishad election.
AL-backed candidate KM Jakir Hossain has become Mayor for the second time in Banpara municipality election. BNP-backed autonomous candidate Ali Akbar has won the No 1 Jowari UP election after getting 9,244 votes, while his opponent AL-backed candidate Chand Mahmud has got 7,044 votes.
Read more: JaPa’s Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa elected as RCC mayor for second consecutive time
Dinajpur, AL-backed candidate and current Mayor Sobujar Siddik Sagar has won the Birol municipality election for the second time, while other AL-backed candidates have lost union parishad elections in the district.
Internal problems behind defeat of AL candidate in RCC election: Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said on Thursday that internal problems resulted in the defeat of their party-nominated candidate in Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) election held on Tuesday.
He said this while exchanging views with journalists at the conference room of the secretariat in the capital.
“Mayor will be from the plough, the second will be the boat---most of the people had the idea over the RCC elections. But all the accounts were overturned in the result of the vote. The AL candidate lost her collateral being fourth in the race,” he said, adding that there are problems there and it was not supposed to be defeated by the margin seen.
Read more: JaPa’s Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa elected as RCC mayor for second consecutive time
Asked about the debacle of the party-sponsored candidate, he said the Jatiya Party-backed candidate was ahead in the pre-election survey and there were some problems inside them (AL).
Apart from this, it was a local government election and many factors are considered in such an election, Quader observed.
“We came to know earlier that the Jatiya Party candidate was ahead of the other candidates. The government party didn’t make any exaggeration here—for that we didn’t try to force power to go ahead and from these aspects democracy won,” he said.
Quader, also road, transport and bridges minister, said they are looking into the facts behind the debacle and going to take a tougher organisational action within one week.
Read more: Voting for Rangpur City Corporation election tomorrow
Minister Quader, who became the party’s GS for the third consecutive time, names of members of the central committee will be announced within one to two day.
JaPa’s Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa elected as RCC mayor for second consecutive time
Jatiya Party-backed mayoral candidate Md Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa on Tuesday unofficially won the high-voltage Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) election for the second consecutive time.
Mostafa bagged 1, 46,798 votes while his nearest contestant Amiruzzaman from Islami Andolon Bangladesh polled 49,892 votes.
His lead over the ruling Awami League’s candidate Hosne Ara Lutfa Dalia was a huge margin of 1, 24,492 votes.
Independent candidate (AL’s rebel candidate) Latifur Rahman bagged 33,883 votes by securing third position in the race while the AL-backed candidate in the 4th spot.
Returning officer Abdul Baten announced the results from district’s Shilpakala Academy around 12.15am when the vote counting completed.
Out of the 9 mayoral candidates, Mostafa contested the election with the "Plough" symbol while Amiruzzaman from Islami Andolon Bangladesh with “Hat Pakha” symbol. Rangpur is known as a stronghold of the Jatiya Party as the party’s founder late HM Ershad hailed from the district.
The returning officer said over 2, 79,000 out of 426,470 exercised their franchises in the RCC elections with 65.8 percent turnover.
Starting the RCC voting at 8.00am using electronic voting machines (EVMs) at 229 centers continued till around 8.30pm, with the scheduling to be ended at 4.00pm.
Nine candidates vied for the mayoral post while 183 people contested for councillor posts under 33 wards. 68 candidates fought the polls for 11 reserved seats.
Read more: Election violence under present EC drops to zero: CEC
The other mayoral candidates are Abu Raihan from Bangladesh Congress, Touhidur Rahman Mandal from Khelafat Majlish, Shafier Rahman from Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Khorshed Alam from Zaker Party and Mehedi Hasan as independent candidate.
After the landslide victory, Mostafizur in an instant reaction said it is not his victory, rather the credit goes to the city dwellers.
Campaigning in the Rangpur City Corporation election ended on Sunday midnight amid much enthusiasm.
A total of 229 presiding officers, 1,349 assistant presiding officers and 2,698 polling officers are performing their duties to maintain order in the voting centres.
The first Rangpur City Corporation election was held on December 21, 2017. The tenure of the current mayor will expire on February 18, 2023.
Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, CEC Kazi Habibul Awal said the voting was underway at a slow pace for using EVMs.
The voting might continue till 7-8 pm due the long queues at the polling centres, he added.
The EC would look into whether there is any other reason behind the delay in voting, he added.
Read more: Rangpur City Corporation: Voting begins amid enthusiasm
“We have got some allegations of slow voting due to electronic voting machines (EVMs) but all the voters at the centers will be allowed to exercise their franchise till night,” he said.
The Election Commission was monitoring the election through CC cameras from a control room.