GM Quader says conspiracy afoot against Jatiyo Party, postpones Saturday rally

• Quader says Jatiyo Party never involved in any illegal activities of AL
• Chhatra Odhikar Parishad feels allowing Jatiyo Party rally will legitimise AL 
• Socialist Party of Bangladesh doesn't support banning of political activities
• LDP says all in 14-party alliance must be brought to justice 

A conspiracy is afoot against the party by labelling it as an accomplice of the Awami League, Jatiyo Party Chairman GM Quader said today (1 November).

"But the party has never been involved in any illegal activities of the Awami League," he said at an urgent press conference at the party's Banani office.

The party later last night postponed a rally which it had scheduled for Saturday (2 November).

Quader in the press conference declared that they will hold their scheduled rally "at any cost, defying opposition and conspiracy" against the party. 

In a press release later, it said the decision to postpone the rally was taken in respect of the law as the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) banned all types of public gatherings in the Kakrail area for Saturday.

The DMP imposed the ban as per Section 29 of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance to maintain public order amid the recent circumstances, reads a public notice.

Quader's urgent press conference today was in response to the vandalisation and torching of the party's central office in the capital's Kakrail on Thursday evening.

The incident occurred after the party, which was the main opposition in parliament during the last two tenures of the Sheikh Hasina-led AL government, announced it would organise a rally in Kakrail on Saturday.

Longstanding conspiracy

GM Quader at the press conference alleged that his party is part of a longstanding conspiracy that dates back to 1990, aimed at eradicating it from the political landscape. 

"Recently, a small group has been spreading misinformation about us being a partner in the Awami League's fascism. We initially hoped that this would cease with an interim government, but it continues," Quader explained.

He said, "We joined the anti-discrimination movement too. We issued statements on every issue. We prayed for the students. But when people connected to the chief adviser's office started talking against us, it hurt us because he [chief adviser] remained silent."

GM Quader, brother of Jatiyo Party founder and late military dictator HM Ershad, explained that his party conducted its politics independently, while the Awami League pursued its own agenda. 

"We have consistently opposed the Awami League's misconduct, and we are not responsible for their wrongdoings," he added.

Quader said all parties legitimised the Awami League by participating in the 2018 elections. "In the 2014 and 2024 elections, the Jatiyo Party was coerced into participating."

Opposition to rally

 Bin Yamin Molla, president of Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, said allowing the Jatiyo Party to hold a rally would be another attempt to legitimise the Awami League. 

At a press conference today, he accused Awami League men of organising attacks on the Jatiyo Party office on Thursday, which he claimed was premeditated.

Regarding the rally, Mollah alleged that the Jatiyo Party was planning to bring in Awami League cadres from various regions for the rally. 

"We have repeatedly issued ultimatums demanding that the allies of fascism be banned, as they are attempting to return in different forms. We want to know the government's position on this and how the DMP Commissioner allows these killers to hold a rally," he said. 

Political reactions

Mahbubur Rahman, an adviser to the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), said those who were part of the Awami League's 14-party alliance and benefited from it must be brought to justice under existing laws. 

Khalequzzaman, adviser of the Socialist Party of Bangladesh, said they do not support attacks on anyone's office, the banning of political activities, or violence against individuals, as these are characteristics of unhealthy politics. 

"Such actions are reminiscent of fascism and authoritarianism. Without the practice of free movement and freedom of expression, fascism can resurface. Although fascist forces may have been driven out, the structures of fascism remain," he added. 

Masud Rana, coordinator of the Left Democratic Alliance, said those who were allies of fascism during the July mass uprising must be held accountable. 

"However, there is a legal process for that. Attacking and vandalising a party's headquarters in such a manner creates long-term obstacles to the advancement of democracy," he added.