Jatiya Party
People want a change in politics: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Thursday said people want an alternative force in the country to get rid of the current situation.
“The people of the country consider Jatiya Party as an alternative force for their emancipation,” he said.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, came up with the comments while exchanging greetings with Jatiya Party leaders and activists on his 75th birthday at the party chairman’s Banani office.
Also read: Now election means murder, horror: GM Quader
He said the wave of the changes in world politics has also hit Bangladesh. “The people of the country want a change in politics and political culture.”
The Jatiya Party chief said their party has been doing politics to fulfill the expectations of people.
He said people have high expectations from Jatiya Party as they have faith in it.
GM Quader said Jatiya Party will continue to carry out a struggle to fulfill people’s hopes and aspirations and ensure their betterment.
Also read: BNP’s 11-day programme to protest price hike
A large number of leaders and activists of Jatiya Party and its associate bodies gathered at the party chairman’s Banani office to celebrate the birthday of GM Quader. They presented bouquets and different gifts to their party chief and wished him a happy birthday.
GM Quader exchanged greetings with the party rank and file and cut cakes on different floors of the office.
Now election means murder, horror: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Wednesday said the election in Bangladesh has now become a name of killing and horror.
“The electoral system has collapsed in the country. It’s now the name of murder and apprehension,” he said at a function at the Jatiya Party Chairman’s Banani office.
Read: Jatiya Party wants strong, competent EC: GM Quader
GM Quader, also the Deputy Opposition Leader in parliament, said people have lost confidence in voting and they no longer want to go to polling stations.
At the function, former army officer Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Taslim Uddin joined Jatiya Party presenting a bouquet in the hands of GM Quader.
The Jatiya Party chief said the people of the country want to see elections being held in a festive mood.
He said fair elections must be ensured to establish democracy. “People must be made election oriented and a strong election commission is needed in this regard.”
GM Quader said people want to know the list of names that the search committee is supposed to give to the President for the formation of the Election Commission. "The proposal given by the search committee should be made public.”
He said their party earlier gave a proposal to form the law on the formation of the Election Commission with giving the commission the necessary powers.
Read:Water tariff hike to be an anti-people decision: GM Quader
“The Election Commission law has been enacted, but the commission has not been empowered. So, the Election Commission has to be dependent on the partisan government,” the Jatiya Party chairman observed.
He also feared that it would be difficult for a powerless election commission to hold credible elections.
EC shouldn't be formed with sycophants of any party: EC
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Tuesday said the next Election Commission (EC) should not be formed with sycophants of a particular party.
"It'll be disappointing if the Election Commission is formed with flatterers of a party," he said.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said no party should have the mentality of making all gains in formation of the EC.
Read:Jatiya Party wants strong, competent EC: GM Quader
He came up with the remarks while speaking at a views exchange meeting with the thana-level leaders of Jatiya Party's Dhaka north city unit at the Party Chairman's Banani office.
The Jatiya Party chief said their party has been helping the government from the beginning to form the EC.
"Holding fair elections won't be possible if the Election Commission is not given the full power. We wanted the Election Commission law with the full authority of the Commission. But, the law that was formulated is the old wine in a new bottle," he said.
GM Quader said people want to see free, fair, neutral, and acceptable elections in the country.
He said the recent Union Parishad (UP) elections have proved that even the workers of Awami League do not want to vote for 'boat' anymore.
"Awami League has lost popularity vastly by staying in state power for a long time. "Corruption, nepotism, and discrimination have crossed the limit of tolerance of people of the country," the Jatiya Party chairman observed.
He regretted that Bangladesh's name is now there beside Myanmar and North Korea due to the US sanctions on some former and current Rab officials.
Read: Water tariff hike to be an anti-people decision: GM Quader
Despite having huge public support, GM Quadewr said BNP has now become a decayed party.
He said both Awami League and BNP have destroyed democracy in the name of parliamentary democracy since 1991.
The Jatiya Party chairman also said people have understood that they won't emancipated by Awami League and BNP. "The people of the country want to see Jatiya Party in power.”
He asked the leaders and workers of the party to make it stronger before the next general election.
Jatiya Party wants strong, competent EC: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Saturday said their party wants a strong Election Commission (EC) that will be capable of holding a credible national election.
“We want a strong Election Commission with people who will be able to hold free, fair, neutral and acceptable elections,” he said.
The Jatiya Party Chief said people are keeping their sharp eyes on the search committee to see whose names are proposed by it for the appointment of the next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other Commissioners.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, came up with the remarks while speaking at a meeting of Jatiya Party co-chairmen at the party Chairman's Banani office.
He said their party wanted a law in accordance with the constitution to form the Election Commission. "We also wanted the law to ensure full power of the Election Commission to hold credible elections."
The Jatiya Party chairman said a powerless election commission cannot hold fair elections. "But the law for appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners is nothing but the old wine in a new bottle."
Read: Educational institutions to be reopened after Feb 21: Health Minister
He, however, said all the search committee members nominated by the President are respected personalities. "I hope they’ll select and recommend the right people who are competent and acceptable for the Election Commission."
GM Quader said the entire nation is eagerly waiting to see what type of Election Commission the president will give at the end of the day.
Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu, Co-Chairmen ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, Kazi Firoz Rashid, Syed Abu Hossain Babla, Advocate Salma Islam and Opposition Chief Whip Moshiur Rahman Ranga also addressed the meeting.
On February 5, a six-member search committee, led by Appellate Division Justice Obaidul Hassan, was formed in line with the new law on forming the Election Commission.
The search committee will recommend names to the President for the appointments of the CEC and other Commissioners as the tenure of the current EC, headed by CEC KM Nurul Huda, expires on February 14.
Electoral system in Bangladesh collapsed: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Monday alleged that the incidents of killing in the name of election have become a regular feature in Bangladesh as the electoral system here has just collapsed.
“The Election Commission seems helpless and weak. Killings are happening in the name of elections. The Election Commission can in no way avoid the responsibility for its failure,” he said.
The Jatiya Party chief said the Election Commission should take into account even if one percent people of the country say the election was not fair.
READ: Bangladesh becoming ‘uninhabitable’, bemoans GM Quader
“The Election Commission shouldn’t announce election results, if necessary, and it can arrange re-election. If it can’t do it, then the Election Commission should step down,” he said.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, made the remarks while addressing a views-exchange meeting with the newly formed convening committee of Jatiya Party’s Dhaka north city unit at the party chairman’s Banani office.
He said people know who has become the champion in manipulating the election. “If it continues, the country will not be able to move forward in any way.”
The Jatiya Party chief said among the four basic principles of the constitution, only secularism now remains in place in the country. “People do not have the rights now in the country as there’s no democracy. Without democracy, accountability can’t be ensured either.”
He said the country abandoned socialism by adopting the free market economy. “Nationalism is getting lost while we’re also losing our own identity. Foreign culture is invading us.”
Stating that the nation achieved independence by fighting against discrimination of Pakistanis, GM Quader said the main spirit of independence was to build a prosperous society free from exploitation and discrimination.
“Even after 50 years of independence, we’ve not been able to materialise the basic spirit of independence. Inequality prevails at all levels of society. Laws are enforced differently for ruling party men and for the common people. It’s difficult to do business and get jobs for those who don’t belong to the ruling party,” he observed.
READ: Liberation War: GM Quader says martyrs’ dreams remain unfulfilled
The Jatiya Party chief said most of the people of the country are struggling to make ends meet for lack of jobs amid the growing price hike. “But some people have amassed huge money and assets. They’re siphoning off money abroad in many ways.”
Bangladesh becoming ‘uninhabitable’, bemoans GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Sunday said Bangladesh is gradually becoming an ‘uninhabitable’ country for lack of safety of people.
“People lack the safety of their lives and dignity. It seems to be a normal affair that people will die in accidents on roads while bus passengers die hit by trains and many people get killed in accidents on waterways,” he said.
Read: Liberation War: GM Quader says martyrs’ dreams remain unfulfilled
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, bemoaned that those responsible for various accidents are not being brought to justice.
He regretted that women are being subjected to gang-raped while travelling with their husbands and children.
“Those who wear caps having beards are being harassed by branding them as militants. Many innocent people are being extorted money by calling them militants. The country is becoming uninhabitable day by day,” the Jatiya party chief said.
He made the remarks at a views-exchange meeting with the leaders of Jatiya Party’s Kishoreganj district unit at the party Chairman’s Banani office.
GM Quader said people are going through a tough time to cope with the soaring prices of the daily essentials. “The prices of essentials are going up uncontrollably, but people have no job and income. So, most of the people in the country are struggling to make ends meet.”
After passing MA, he said, many youths are working as hawkers for lack of jobs and many educated unemployed are driving CNG-run auto-rickshaws as their merits are not being evaluated.
Read: UP polls: GM Quader says no change in centre-capturing culture
“We’re failing to use the educated unemployed in the interest of the country. Hundreds of educated unemployed are going abroad every year crossing the seas and hills illegally taking the risk of their lives and even many die,” the Jatiya Party chief observed.
He said their party does not do the politics to take anyone to power or to remove anyone from it. “Jatiya Party is doing politics for the emancipation of people. "We also don't do politics to gain someone's trust or to dislike someone. Jatiya Party is in the field of politics with a distinct ideology.
GM Quader also said people want to see the Jatiya Party in power as an alternative to Awami League and BNP.
EC formation: President’s dialogue with Jatiya Party begins
President Abdul Hamid on Monday started a dialogue with the main opposition Jatiya Party in Parliament to discuss issues relating to the reconstitution of the Election Commission.
An eight-member delegation of Jatiya Party joined the dialogue at 4:20 pm at Bangabhaban, President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin said.
Jatiya Party (JaPa) Chairman GM Quader is leading his party’s delegation at the talks.
The other members of the delegation are Senior Co-Chairman Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud, Secretary General Mujibul Haque, Co-Chairman ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlardar, Kazi Firoz Rashid, Syed Abul Hossain Babla, Salma Islam, Chief Whip of the main opposition party Mashiur Rahman Ranga.
Read: Don't eat white rice, advises food minister
The five-year tenure of the incumbent Commission, led by Chief Election Commission KM Nurul Huda, will expire on February 14 next.
Now there are 39 registered political parties, according to the EC website. But only nine parties have representation in Parliament.
The nine parties are Bangladesh Awami League, Jatiya Party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Ganoforum, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation and Jatiya Party-JP.
In December 2016, President Abdul Hamid had a series of talks with the registered political parties over the EC’s reconstitution that began with the first meeting with a delegation of BNP.
Read: Bangladesh wants friendly relations with all countries: PM
Later, a six-member search committee was formed to recommend names for the Chief Election Commissioner and election commissioners.
The search committee sought five names from every political party. The committee later submitted 10 names before President Md Abdul Hamid to appoint CEC and election commissioners among them.
The President finally formed the present commission-headed by KM Nurul Huda. Then the CEC and other commissioners took oath on February 15, 2017.
As per the constitution, the EC should be formed under a law, but this law has not been enacted yet in Bangladesh.
The new election commission will have to arrange the 12th national election within November 2023 to January 2024.
‘Entente’ behind transport sector chaos: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Sunday raised a question in parliament whether “government authorities” have made any ‘entente’ with transport sector leaders.
“The reports on charging extra fares, harassing passengers and various irregularities in the transport sector are regularly run by the media… who’s actually controlling the transport sector--the government or the transport owners, or the workers--?” he questioned.
While delivering the valedictory speech in the 15th session of the 11th parliament, the Jatiya Party chief also wanted to know, “Who are working to protect the interests of people in an important sector like transport? Is there any entente between the government authorities and the leaders of this sector? Many people make such an allegation.”
Also read: Road anarchy over bus fares must be stopped: GM Quader
GM Quader, also Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, was seen smiling while raising the question standing beside his party MP Moshiur Rahman Ranga, president of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners 'Association.
He said it is only natural that transport owners may demand an increase in bus fares due to the rise in fuel prices but people were subjected to inhuman sufferings as a transport strike was imposed without any prior notice.
The Jatiya Party chairman also did not find any justification behind the suspension of services by gas-run buses.
He said Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), which is responsible for building a modern and disciplined road transport system, should have taken effective punitive action against those who disrupted the road transport system by going on strike without any notice.
He said the BRTA fixed new fares for the diesel-run buses as per their demand, but both the gas-run and diesel-run buses are taking extra fares from the passengers.
GM Quader also said the students’ current demand for ensuring half bus fare for them is a justified one.
Also read: No one to look into public sufferings: GM Quader
He said students in different countries travel by public transport at lower fares than usual. “This system was in practice in our country in the past.”
He hoped that the authorities concerned will implement the issue of half fares for students as soon as possible either by enacting a law or an executive order.
In his speech, GM Quader made a demand for introducing retirement benefits for the MPs. “We’ve many MPs serving people for 20-25 years as their representative. In many countries, MPs are given retirement support. I demand that such arrangements be made in our country, “he observed.
The Jatiya Party chief said similar benefits can also be introduced for mayors, councilors, chairmen, vice-chairmen and members of local government bodies.
Now people call us “collaborators” for overpraising govt: Chunnu
Jatiya Party MP Mujibul Haque Chunnu on Saturday said people call them ‘Dalal’ (collaborators) as they overpraise the government.Chunnu, also secretary general of the main opposition in parliament, came up with the statement as Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader criticized the opposition MPs for not praising the government for its various successes and development activities in the road and transport sector.Earlier, participating in discussions on the Highway Bill-2021, several opposition MPs of both BNP and Jatiya Party came down heavily on the minister for recent fatal road accidents, anarchic situation and corruption in the transport sector.Responding to the criticisms, Obaidul Quader urged the opposition not only to oppose, but also to praise the good jobs of the government.
Also read: People fed-up with AL, BNP: Chunnu
Road anarchy over bus fares must be stopped: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Tuesday voiced concern over the transport workers’ rowdy attitude towards passengers and urged the government to take steps for stopping road anarchy over bus fares.
“It can’t be accepted the way the transport workers misbehave with passengers. Road anarchy must be stopped,” he said.
In a statement, the Jatiya Party chief said the transport workers are collecting much more money from passengers than the bus fares increased by the road transport authorities on the pretext of hike in diesel and kerosene prices.
Read: No one to look into public sufferings: GM Quader
As a result, GM Quader said, the ordinary passengers are being harassed while trying to reach their destinations by bus every day. “When they (passengers) protest, they’re subjected to indescribable torture.”
He also said full fares are being collected from students instead of half they deserve. “The transport workers are behaving harshly with female students and women.”
GM Quader said transport owners and workers had enforced a transport strike without any prior notice soon after the government increased the prices of diesel and kerosene by Tk 15 per liter on the night of November 3 last, harassing crores of commuters. “But no one has the right to call a strike without any prior notice.”
Later, he said, the government raised the transport fares through discussions with the transport owners and workers. “Many common people expressed their displeasure over the issue as they thought it’s a staged-managed drama. Even after that, the workers are collecting fares from passengers several times higher than the officially fixed ones.”
Read: Raising fuel price, transport fare an anti-people move: GM Quader
Though the oil prices have started falling on the international market, the Jatiya Party chief said the government does not seem to have any plan to lower the fuel prices.
He bemoaned that the prices of essential commodities are skyrocketing due to the rise in transportation costs. “That’s why ordinary people are struggling to make ends meet.”
GM Quader said the government has to take a quick decision to reduce the fuel prices as the oil prices have started falling in the world market.
He also urged the government to take steps for ensuring half fares for students.