Jatiya Party (JaPa) on Monday appointed its former MP Barrister Shamim Haider Patwary as the party’s new Secretary General, removing Mujibul Haque Chunnu, amid growing tensions within the party ahead of the national council.
JaPa Chairman GM Quader, using the authority given to him by the party’s constitution, removed Mujibul Haque Chunnu from the post of Secretary General and appointed Barrister Shamim Haider Patwary to the vacant position, said a party press release.
Mujibul Haque Chunnu had been serving as Secretary General since October 9, 2021, following the death of then-Secretary General Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu.
Soon after the new appointment, GM Quader also removed three senior party leaders --Anisul Islam Mahmud, ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader, and Md Mujibul Haque Chunnu -- from all party posts for violating party discipline, said another party press release.
PBI to probe Jatiya Party's alleged nomination trade prior to 2024 polls
According to the media release, district and city-level party leaders at a meeting held on June 25 raised the allegations of breaching party discipline against the three senior leaders and called for action.
Later, on 28 June, a meeting of the party Presidium decided to relieve the three of all party responsibilities.
“Exercising the authority given by the party constitution, GM Quader has relieved Senior Co-Chairman Anisul Islam Mahmud, Co-Chairman ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader and Secretary General Md Mujibul Haque of all party posts, including primary membership,” the press release said.
It said the decision has already been put into effect.
Shamim Haider Patwary previously served as MP from Gaibandha-1 and is known to be a close associate of Chairman GM Quader.
Tensions within the Jatiya Party have worsened, as the party now seems divided into two rival groups over its leadership.
The issue became more visible last month after the party announced its upcoming national council.
The party earlier planned to hold the national council on June 28 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.
However, on June 16, Chairman GM Quader postponed the event, saying the venue was unavailable.
In defiance of this decision, a group of senior leaders led by Co-Chairmen Anisul Islam Mahmud and ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader announced that the council would go ahead as planned. They later withdrew this decision.
Meanwhile, Co-Chairmen Anisul Islam Mahmud and Ruhul Amin Hawlader issued a joint statement opposing the appointment of Shamim Haider Patwary.
Another Jatiya Party office, this time in Khulna, vandalised
They called the decision highly undemocratic, unconstitutional and a direct violation of the party’s charter.
The two leaders accused GM Quader of taking one-sided, autocratic actions, which they warned could seriously harm the party’s future.
In their joint statement, they said Mujibul Haque is the party’s legitimate and respected Secretary General. “No appointment or dismissal can be considered valid before the announced national council,” the statement said.
They also said removing Mujibul Haque without any reason and appointing Patwary without consultation clearly goes against party discipline and democratic values. “Such a decision breaks down the party’s internal democratic system.”