Dhaka, February 23, 2024— The Jatiya Party (JaPa) is grappling with internal conflicts, primarily starting from the aftermath of the twelfth parliamentary election. The political turbulence is marked by a power struggle between the supporters of Rawshan Ershad, the chief patron of the party, and those aligned with G.M. Quader, the party chairman.
Rawshan Ershad's supporters have been steadily gaining momentum, raising concerns about the internal stability of the party. In contrast, the party under the leadership of G.M. Quader is witnessing a gradual weakening, as successive leaders show signs of internal vulnerability.
The ongoing power struggle has fueled anticipation among the faction perceived as powerless. There is a prevailing sentiment that, should this faction secure a favorable position, Rawshan Ershad's supporters could become a dominant force within JaPa under her leadership.
Leaders of JaPa maintain that, in terms of numerical strength, the majority is still associated with G.M. Quader. Despite this, the organizational perspective paints a different picture, with the weakened party facing additional challenges. Co-chairman Abul Hossain Babla and presidium member Shafiqul Islam Sentu, both aligned with Rawshan Ershad, attend meetings with a considerable show of manpower. This trend is further exemplified by the presence of Selim Osman, Saifuddin Milon, and Kazi Firoz Rashid, with only Selim Osman currently siding with G.M. Quader.
G.M. Quader's camp argues that the organizational situation of the party has been weak from its inception. Leaders who were candidates in the twelfth parliamentary election express discontent with G.M. Quader's leadership, particularly in terms of financial benefits. As a consequence, they are progressively shifting their allegiance to Rawshan Ershad, contributing to a decline in G.M. Quader's organizational strength.
The internal discord within JaPa deepens as leaders associated with G.M. Quader contend that the party's organizational condition has been inherently weak. Those who were candidates in the twelfth parliamentary election are increasingly dissatisfied with the leadership, leading to a shift in support toward Rawshan Ershad. Despite G.M. Quader's presence in the party leadership and parliament, the organizational strength of JaPa continues to dwindle.
As the power dynamics within JaPa undergo significant shifts, predicting the party's future trajectory remains challenging. G.M. Quader is currently taking measures to analyze the evolving situation by organizing various meetings and discussions in the capital.
Responding to the situation, G.M. Quader states that he is unfazed by the affiliations of Rawshan Ershad's supporters. He dismisses concerns about their authority to convene a conference, emphasizing that only the party holds the sole authority to do so. G.M. Quader remains focused on the party's internal processes and maintains that their authority will be exercised through the proper channels, irrespective of external developments.
