The Jatiya Party has plunged into a complete mess with the party men sceptical of its future due to the internal conflict, debacle in the 7 January general election and post-polls revolt by a number of central and grassroots leaders against the top leadership.

Insiders said even though the internal conflict seems to be doused for the time being, the dissidents are actually waiting for the party’s council session to make an outburst against the party’s top leadership and replace them with new ones.

“We see no good future of the Jatiya Party as the party is plagued with multiple problems, including serious internal conflict. The party chairman and secretary general have pushed it into the brink of destruction through their various steps,” a Presidium member of the party told the Daily Sun, wishing not to be named.

He said the party has become weak and lost its popularity due to a number of wrong decisions, including expulsion of popular and strong leaders from the party, participation in the election without consensus among party men and reaching an understanding with Awami League on only 26 seats in the election.

Party sources said though the party’s council session was scheduled to be held in the current month as per the party charter, the top leadership is delaying it in fear of facing strong revolt from a number of leaders.

“We couldn’t hold the council session by January due to the election. We’ve now planned to hold the council this April or May,”
 Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu told the Daily Sun.

GM Quader and Moshiur Rahman Ranga were elected chairman and secretary general of the party respectively for three years in its council session held in December 2019. And Raushan Ershad was made chief patron of the party in the council.

The internal dispute between GM Quader and Raushan Ershad again surfaced after the council as followers of Raushan had hoped that she would be the chief of the party in the absence of her husband HM Ershad who died in July 2019.

“After the council, GM Quader has continuously been trying to weaken his sister-in-law’s hand either by expelling her followers from the party or keeping them inactive and outside the committees,” said a leader.

In July 2020, GM Quader made Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu as the party’s secretary general removing Ranga. Later, Chunnu replaced Bablu following his death.

The party’s internal conflict surfaced again when Raushan Ershad stayed away from the polls race following raw over seat sharing. Ignoring the opinions of the leaders, the party contested the polls.

The party faced a debacle in the election winning 11 seats despite the withdrawal of Awami League candidates from 26 seats as per the understanding.

Other party candidates got angry with the high command following the seat-sharing deal. After the polls, a section of leaders revolted against the top leadership and staged demonstrations.

Following the revolt, GM Quader expelled a co-chairman, two Presidium members and a vice-chairman. Though the list was longer, he retreated from taking action against more leaders in fear of split of the party and is trying to douse the flame before the party’s council, insiders said.

In a letter on Monday, Raushan Ershad urged GM Quader to withdraw the expulsion order of the party leaders and take them back to the party for the sake of unity.
“If the expelled leaders say sorry for their misdeeds, the party chairman may consider the matter,” Chunnu told the Daily Sun.

The party insiders said the rebels have now remained silent in fear of expulsion as they have planned to make an outburst in the council session and bring changes in the leadership.
Meanwhile, Raushan Ershad is patronising the expelled and rebel leaders of the party from behind the scenes, sources said.

“We’re reorganising leaders and activists. We’ll take necessary action in time,” expelled Presidium member Sunil Shuvo Roy told the Daily Sun.

Party insiders said they are also taking preparations to join the upcoming elections in Cumilla and Mymensingh city corporations to be held on 9 March and Upazila Parishad elections likely to start in April.

Chunnu said they do not want the local government elections to be held with party symbols.