The main opposition Jatiya Party lawmaker Anisul Islam Mahmud on Tuesday (February 13, 2024) demanded the government of Bangladesh put an end to the loan default culture to save the country’s economy. “In this situation, we need to stop the culture of wilful loan default,” he said. Anisul Islam, a veteran parliamentarian and the deputy leader of the opposition, placed the demand in the House, taking the floor on a point of order. Citing a newspaper story, he said the banking sector's defaulted loans soared by over 20 percent to Tk 145,633 crore in 2023 as both governance and accountability continue to get looser. 98 percent of the country's demand for medicine is produced locally: Health Minister “Whenever this issue is being discussed, we are told that Bangladesh Bank and other banks are taking measures to reduce this (defaulted loans). But we never see that defaulted loans are declining, rather it is going higher,” he said. The Jatiya Party MP said the amount of defaulted loans was Tk 28,000 crore as of 2008. The number of defaulted loans has increased to Tk 1.45 lac crore since 2008 to as of today which is very alarming. He said there is a cash crisis and a dollar crisis in the banking sector. Some strong measures have been taken to tackle this situation. With Pahela Falgun-Valentine’s Day, the nation eyes a festive February 14 Anisul said Bangladesh Bank (BB) is telling that they want to reduce the amount of defaulted loans from existing nine percent to eight percent of total outstanding loans.   “But their (BB) track record says that they will not do so,” he continued. The opposition lawmaker requested the Finance Minister to give importance to stopping the loan default culture. “The issue of loan default culture has been discussed in parliament so many times. But nothing has happened,” he added. Govt okays project to provide freelancing training to youths in 48 districts

Ghulam Muhammad Quader, chairman of the Jatiya Party, said that his party has been a victim of various conspiracies for a long time. "Jatiya Party has been subjected to various conspiracies at various times since leaving power in1991," he was talking to media persons at his Senpara residence in Rangpur city on Saturday afternoon. Opposition will not leave streets until democracy is restored: BNP He said that the Jatiya Party's founding chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad was a very popular leader. But his rivals had tried to undermine his popularity in various ways. GM Quader also ruled out the possibility of the party division that is being talked about now. Govt considering framework to hold those spreading disinformation accountable: Info State Minister Regarding the opposition party,  GM Quader said the Awami League and the Jatiya party are two major parties in the parliament. "As we (Jatiya Party) are the only party with 11 members, we hope Jatiya Party will be the opposition party in the parliament. If it doesn't happen, we will be the only party to criticize the government for the welfare of the country and people," he added. He said we were the opposition party in the last Parliament. We have always played the role of the opposition party for the welfare of the country criticizing the government constructively and highlighted irregularities and corruption along with our recommendations. "And we will do the same things as before." JaPa trainwreck: Dhaka North committee 'abolished', two leaders expelled Among others, presidium member of the party and Rangpur City Corporation Mayor Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa and other leaders were also present.

The oath-taking ceremony of the elected members of the 12th Parliament will be held tomorrow (January 10, 2024). According to sources at the Speaker's office, the Parliament Secretariat is making preparations for the oath-taking ceremony. Read more: Envoys of Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, UAE and others congratulate PM Hasina Awami League (AL)-backed candidates won 222 seats in Sunday's general election, while independent candidates -- most also belonging to AL -- won 62 seats. Jatiya Party candidates were victorious in 11 seats and three single candidates each from three parties -- Bangladesh Workers’ Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod and Bangladesh Kalyan Party -- secured victory in their respective constituencies. Read more: Wait to know who will be the opposition: Anisul Huq

Jatiya Party (JaPa) chairman GM Quader's wife Sherifa Quader has stumbled in the race of 12th parliamentary election held on January 7. Sherifa, who competed with Jatiya Party's electoral symbol " plough " lost to independent candidate Md Khasru Chowdhury in the Dhaka-18 constituency. 12th JS Election: AL romps home amid low turnout in peaceful but predictable polls Independent candidate Khasru bagged 79,085 votes with the 'kettle' symbol, while his nearest rival independent candidate Tofazzal Hossain with the 'truck' symbol got 44,909 votes. Former JaPa sec general Mashiur Rahman defeated by independent candidate JP's Sherifa got only 6,429 votes with the 'plough' symbol. As a result, she has lost her security deposit in the election. Tipu Munshi wins Rangpur-4 Earlier, Awami League gave up this seat to Jatiya Party as its political allies.

Two of the three parliamentary seats were won by Awami League’s candidates in Thakurgaon and one by Jatiya Party's ‘plough’ in the 12th parliamentary elections. Cricketer Shakib Al Hasan elected by 140,000 Magura-I constituency Ramesh Chandra Sen and Mazharul Islam Sujan from Awami League won in Thakurgaon-1 and Thakurgaon-2 respectively while Hafizuddin Ahmed from Jatiya Party in Thakurgaon-3. Hasina wins Gopalganj-3

Jatiya Party (JaPa) candidate for Chuadanga-1 constituency, Advocate Sohrab Hossain, has withdrawn his candidacy from the 12th parliamentary election race, alleging lack of cooperation from his party and coordination. He is the president of Chuadanga district unit of Jatiya Party. Expressing frustration, the Jatiya Party leader said, “You know how this year's voting is going to be held. Our party chairman and secretary general do not communicate with us. They just left us after giving nominations.” Sohrab Hossain also alleged that the party is not providing any expenses for the election. Read: Habiganj-2: JaPa candidate withdraws from election citing 'lack of fair environment' “They are busy with the 26 who are there. And 257 of us are ignored. This year's election is different. No one talks without money,” he added. Saying that the "boat" and independent candidates are spending crores, the Jatiya Party leader said, “I spent as much as I had. Now I can't afford it anymore. So I stepped aside.” In the 12th parliamentary election, 15 candidates are contesting for two seats in Chuadanga. Of them, six are contesting in Chuadanga-1 constituency. Read: Mahi’s election camp torched: UP chairman among 5 sued

Jatiya Party’s Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu, MP, has said there is no division within the party and it remains unified under party Chairman GM Quader’s leadership. Chunnu said that Rowshan Ershad is a significant figure for them, serving as the chief patron of  the party and a symbol of respect. He affirmed the party's full support if she decides to contest, promising assistance in every possible way, according to a press release signed by the party chairman’s Press Secretary Khandaker Delwar Jalali on Thursday. AL finalises candidates for 72 constituencies in Rajshahi, Rangpur divisions “The Jatiya Party is going to the polls as per the party's decision,” he told reporters at the Jatiya Party chairman’s office in Banani. “We wanted an atmosphere of fair voting. The Election Commission and various sections of the government have assured us that the election will be fair. They have said the election environment will be free at any cost,” he said. BNP, Jamaat, like-minded parties threaten to resist lopsided polls  Chunnu said that the ruling party and the Election Commission promised that voters would be able to come to the polling stations and cast their votes freely. “It is because of this assurance that the announcement of our participation in the election has been delayed,” he said. Replying to a question, Chunnu said the party will contest in all 300 seats with its own symbol. BNP to enforce another spell of 48-hour blockade from Sunday “Because we have not written to the Election Commission to join any alliance. There are different strategies in politics. We will move forward with our own strategy.”

The visiting Election Exploratory Mission from the European Union (EU) is holding a meeting with BNP this morning (July 15, 2023). The meeting began around 9 am at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, said party’s media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. The EU delegation and BNP are supposed to discuss various issues related to the next national election. Countdown begins for govt's downfall, says BNP Leader Rizvi BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee Member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, party chairperson’s adviser Ismail Jabiullah, Organising Secretary Shama Obaed and Human Rights Affairs Secretary Advocate Asaduzzaman Asad were attended the meeting. Party sources said the BNP delegation may talk elaborately about previous polls held under the Awami League government and provide documents to justify their party’s stance of “not joining the election without a non-party interim government.” They are also likely to discuss the latest political situation in the country, cases against “40 lakh” BNP leaders and activists, jailing of party chairperson Khaleda Zia and other leaders, and the alleged repressive acts by the government against opposition leaders and workers. BNP unveils 31-point outline to 'rebuild, repair' state The EU team is also scheduled to hold meetings with Jatiya Party, ruling Awami League and some other parties today. The EU Election Exploratory Mission arrived here on July 9 on a two-week visit and it has already talked to the Election Communication and various stakeholders of the government as part of their move to assess whether a fully-fledged Election Observation Mission should be sent here by the EU before Bangladesh’s next parliamentary election. No scope to hold ‘acceptable polls’ under AL govt: BNP tells Canadian envoy

Jatiya Party's mayoral candidate for Sylhet City Corporation election, Nazrul Islam Babul, has alleged that BCL and Jubo League leaders and activists are booting out agents for the ‘plough’ symbol from various centres.“I have been getting repeated calls from different centres that ‘plough’ agents are being thrown out from centres and not allowed to enter many centres,” he said. Read: 100% hopeful about victory, says Sylhet's AL-backed Mayor Candidate Anwaruzzaman He made the allegation while talking to reporters after casting his vote at Ananda Niketan School in the city at 9:30 am on Wednesday (June 21, 2023).“I have been saying from the beginning that attempts are being made to influence the election. I have come to cast my vote at Ananda Niketan School. Muscle strength is being demonstrated here,” he said.“I just got the news that all the agents of ‘plough’ have been booted from Sylhet Government Pilot High School centre by the goons of Chhatra League and Jubo League. I strongly condemn this. I'm going to the centre right now. I will file a written complaint with the Election Commission,” said the Jatiya Party leader. Read: Sylhet city polls: Voting peaceful so far"The EVM did not work for an hour in the morning. It could also be part of the plot. The Election Commission, the administration, and the returning officers are all in the pockets of the ‘boat’ candidate,” he added.

BNP made the right decision by boycotting the election as the result was fixed behind the scene, said Jatiya Party's defeated candidate in Barisal City Corporation (BCC) election Engineer Iqbal Hossain Taposh on Tuesday. He termed the election as ‘farce’ and urged the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to resign because of the election fraud with people. Also Read: BCC polls: 19 BNP leaders expelled for life in Barishal “The government and the Election Commission have staged digital dramas with the people…BNP has taken the right decision by choosing to boycott the election. The election result was made backstage,” he said. He made these remarks at a press conference at the main election office of the plough symbol on Oxford Mission Road in Barishal city. Also Read: AL-backed mayoral candidate Abul Khair Abdullah wins Barishal City Corporation election He alleged that the administration, the presiding officers and the returning officers of the centers made various excuses and delayed in allowing his agents to enter the centers on time. Taposh condemned the attack on the mayoral candidate of the Islami Andolan and demanded speedy justice. Also Read: Islami Andolan Bangladesh rejects Barishal, Khulna city polls results Chief Election conductor of Jatirya Party’s Plough symbol Professor Mohsin-ul-Islam Habul, District Jatiya Party member secretary Advocate MA Jalil, among others, were present at the press conference. Also Read: Barishal city polls: Woman says Islami Andolon supporter attacked her over recording video