Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu on Wednesday said the Election Commission's roadmap for the 12th parliamentary election is valueless. He doubted that the Election Commission (EC) that has no power would be able to conduct a fair election. As per the law, Chunnu said, the executive branch of the country is supposed to work under the EC during the polls, but nothing is mentioned about what will happen if the executive branch does not listen to the commission. “So, the executive branch is not bound to obey the directives of the Election Commission,” the Jatiya Party leader said. He said their party wanted the Election Commission to be empowered by enacting a law so that the commission can take immediate action if anyone disobeys its order. “But the Election Commission does not want to be empowered.” Chunnu made the comments at the launching programme of an associate body of the Jatiya Party at its chairman’s Banani office. Earlier in the day, the EC unveiled a roadmap for the 12th parliamentary election at a function at the auditorium of the Nirbachan Bhaban. As per the roadmap, the general election will be held by January 29, 2024, using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in 150 constituencies out of 300 across the country. Chunnu said the Election Commission has been making contradictory comments since the beginning. “They’re saying that it's not their job to bring someone to the polls. Then why did you discuss so much with so many political parties? They said, if everyone wants, the election will be held through ballots. The ruling party wants the use of EVM.  Then will the commission use EVMs ignoring the opinions of the majority of the parties?” He said the Election Commission has decided to buy 2 lakh more EVMs to conduct elections in 150 seats alongside constructing 10 warehouses in 10 regions of the country for EVM storage and maintenance. Read: Jatiya Party relieves Ranga from all party posts “For this, the Election Commission has prepared a budget of about Tk9, 000 crore. Such a decision is unacceptable amid the economic crisis of the country,” the Jatiya Party leader observed. Stating that the people of the country no longer want to see Awami League and BNP in power, he said the two major parties have failed to ensure good governance in the country.  “People of the country want to see a third political force. Jatiya Party is trying to be that alternative force.”   Chunnu said Jatiya Party will not be there in any alliance as it is preparing to participate in the election in all three hundred seats. “The Jatiya Party will not go to anyone else's alliance. If any political force wants to join us under the leadership of Jatiya Party, we will consider it.”

Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu on Saturday said fair voting using the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will not be possible. “EVM is good, but those who will operate it are not neutral. So, the election using the EVMs will not be acceptable,” he said. Chunnu also said Jatiya Party will decide in its party forum whether it will go to the polls or not if the Election Commission decides to use the EVMs in the next general election. He was speaking as the chief guest at the conference of Jatiya Party’s 33-No ward in the city’s Mohammadpur area. Also read: EC: EVMs to be customized in presence of candidates in Cumilla polls The Jatiya Party leader voiced concern as a quarter suddenly lodged complaints with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against 116 alems (Islamic scholars). “It’s important to find out why this quarter came up with such allegation. It’s also necessary to make an inquiry about their incomes, expenditures and wealth,” he said. Stating that 400,000 crores have been siphoned off abroad from Bangladesh from 2009 to 2016, Chunnu wanted to know why it is not being investigated. He renewed their party’s demand for publishing a list of money launderers and urged the government to take legal action against them. The Jatiya Party secretary general also alleged that the country is spending three times higher than the actual costs in the name of mega projects. “Looting is taking place in the name of development.” Also read: EVMs in national election won't be logical: GM Quader He also said there is no difference between Awami League and BNP in terms of corruption and misrule. “So, the people of the country no longer want to see Awami League and BNP in power. They now want to see the government of Jatiya Party.”

Newly-appointed Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu on Monday said people have got fed-up with Awami League and BNP as the two major parties could not fulfill their hopes and aspirations. “Awami League and BNP have failed to fulfill the expectations of people despite repeatedly returning to power. The country’s people have become fed-up with Awami League and BNP,” he said. Chunnu said people believe that it is only the Jatiya Party that can meet the expectations of the people after returning to power. “So, they (people) want to see Jatiya Party in power through the next election.” He made the remarks while talking to reporters and party leaders and activists after offering fateha at the grave of late party secretary general Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu at Mirpur Martyred Intellectual Graveyard. READ: Problems over RMG wage board to be addressed through discussions: Chunnu Chunnu said Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu always dreamt of strengthening Jatiya Party to take it to power. “Ziauddin Bablu wanted to see the Jatiya Party in power by fielding candidates in 300 seats. Therefore, we’re working to revitalise Jatiya Party so that we can give candidates from 300 seats in the next election,” he said. On Saturday, Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader appointed party co-chairman Mujibul Haque Chunnu as its secretary general following the death of Ziauddin Bablu. READ: No reason to be upset with minimum wage: Chunnu On October 2, Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu passed away at a city hospital at the age of 67. Chunnu, who joined Jatiya Party leaving a government job in the 80s, was elected MP five times from Kishoreganj-3 seat.

Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Saturday made party co-chairman Mujibul Haque Chunnu as its secretary general following the death of Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu. GM Quader took the decision as per section 20/1/A of the Jatiya Party constitution, his deputy press secretary Khandaker Deloar Jalali told UNB. On October 2, Jatiya Party secretary-general Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu passed away at a city hospital at the age of 67. On July 26, 2020, Bablu was appointed the party secretary general removing Moshiur Rahman Ranga from the post. Also read: GM Quader recalls Bablu’s contributions to JaPa According to a Jatiya Party press release, GM Quader appointed Chunnu as the party secretary general through an organisational order with effect from October 9, 2021. In his initial reaction, Chunnu said he will work hard to strengthen the party. “The party chairman has reposed trust in me. So, I’ll uphold his dignity through my work.” He said he will focus on enhancing the party’s organisational capacity to field Jatiya Party candidates in 300 seats and bring the party back to power. Party sources said GM Quader wanted to make young leader Shameem Haider Patwary the party secretary general, but the senior leaders strongly opposed it, forcing the party chairman to change his stance. Apart from Chunnu, former secretaries general Ruhul Amin Hawlader, Moshiur Rahman Ranga, Syaed Abul Hossain MP, presidium member Golam Moshi and additional secretary general Sahidur Rahman were interested to have the party post. Also read:  JaPa wants law for EC formation After discussions with some senior leaders, GM Quader finally picked Chunnu for the post. Chunnu, who joined Jatiya Party leaving a government job in the 80s, was elected MP five times from Kishoreganj-3 seat. He also served as State Minister for Labour and Employment in Prime Shekih Hasina’s previous cabinet formed after the 2014 election.