Opposition leader Raushan Ershad on Thursday said that they hope that the upcoming parliamentary elections will be held in a free, fair and festive atmosphere. “And Jatiya Party will participate in that election, Jatiya Party is taking full preparations to participate in the parliamentary elections,” she said in the concluding speech of the 24th session of the Parliament. The opposition leader said that Jatiya Party has participated in all national elections since its inception. Also read: Raushan declares herself Jatiya Party chairman “It never boycotted elections because they believed in democracy,” she added. Raushan Ershad said that prices of many goods had increased due to the Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war. “But now the price has come down in the world market,” she said. She mentioned that middle class people are now joining the lower income class people for TCB’s fair price OMS. She said that it has become very urgent to take steps and expand social safety net programmes for maintaining growth of the country. Also read: Raushan Ershad hopes next national election will be free and fair “Otherwise, pressure on people will increase and instability will be created,” she said. The opposition leader said that there is no scope to blame the world market for the economic crisis. “Dollar crisis is going on in the country for a long time. Banking sector has come in the discussions several times for irregularities. Steps should be taken to mitigate dollar crisis,” she said. Also read: Attempt to come to power bypassing constitution won’t succeed: Raushan

Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader has said he cannot be sold for money or power. “Someone on YouTube has posted that I have been sold out. That hurts me. In my career, I did not accept many of my dues on the question of policy. I have taken the required share of the allocation for me during my career. When my family went with me on a tour, I paid their bills on a personal basis,” said the JP leader, according to a press release. Also read: GM Quader wants permanent arrangement for fair elections Quader was speaking to journalists at the party’s office in Dhaka’s Banani on Wednesday afternoon. Jatiya Party Vice Chairman Ahsan Adelur Rahman, MP and Jatiya Party Chairman's Press Secretary-02 Khandaker Delwar Jalali were present on the occasion. “I wanted to resign from the ministry once and did not take a ministry another time. I can't be sold for money or power. I've served for 25 years, and I’ve done an important job for the last 10 years. In the last two years, I used to buy the entire petroleum products of the country. I had the opportunity to make illegal money, and I never did. In 28 years of politics, I have been an MP for 20 years and ran two ministries in five years,” he said. Also read: We are ready to sacrifice anything for the sake of country: GM Quader “I care about the party and the country and the nation," he said. "I've said it before... India wants a peaceful and beautiful election. They want no violence before and after the elections. India has no say about who will come to power or the manner in which the elections will be held," he said. Quader said that there are many issues related to India's investment or interest in Bangladesh. Also read: US visa policy to help Bangladesh hold fair elections: GM Quader "So they never wanted any unstable environment in Bangladesh. In fact, there have been talks with the Indian government about maintaining good relations with the Jatiya Party,” he added.

Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Wednesday said that some people are taking advantage of Raushan Ershad’s illness to make her sign papers. Responding to a question regarding Raushan Ershad’s take-over as the party’s chairman, GM Quader said: “Raushan Ershad is our sister-in-law, she is the wife of our elder brother. We used to consider our elder brother as a fatherly figure, and likewise we considered Raushan Ershad as a motherly figure since childhood. “I've never had conflict with her and we still don't have any conflict. Some people are taking advantage of Raushan Ershad's illness to make her sign papers. A lot of statements are being made, and to my knowledge, she is not making any of those statements at will,” he told reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after returning home from a visit to India. Also read: Raushan declares herself Jatiya Party chairman He alleged that some people are trying to weaken Jatiya Party. “There is a conspiracy to destroy our image so that Jatiya Party cannot stand strong. They want to prove that Jatiya Party does not have strength, there is no unity in the party. The conspirators are spreading confusion about the party among the leaders and activists and the countrymen,” the party chairman said. “We strongly condemn this conspiracy. I think disciplinary action should be taken against those who are doing this,” GM Quader said. Later, addressing Jatiya Party leaders and activists, he said, "The conspirators are not our friends. They want to weaken us.” Also read: Raushan Ershad pays courtesy call on PM Sheikh Hasina Meanwhile, responding to a question regarding his India trip the JaPa chairman said India wants to see a fair election in Bangladesh. "We went there at the invitation of the Indian government," he told reporters following his arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. “We've had conversations with a number of important people.” Various bilateral issues involving the two countries were discussed during meetings, he said. GM Quader said: "India wants to see a fair election in Bangladesh. They will be happy if there is no violence before and after the election. India has significant investment in this country, so they are hoping for a peaceful election here.” Also read: Raushan Ershad hopes next national election will be free and fair In response to a query regarding India's perspective on the political stand-off between the major parties in Bangladesh, GM Quader said India considers it as an internal affair of Bangladesh. “But they want us to resolve the crisis through dialogue,” he said.

Jatiya Party Chief Patron Raushan Ershad on Tuesday declared herself the chairman of the party by relieving its current chairman GM Quader, now staying in India, from the post. The announcement was given through a press release signed by Raushan, also the Opposition leader in parliament. “I Begum Raushan Ershad, MP, the founding co-chairman of Jatiya Party, hereby declare that I have taken charge of the party chairman on the advice and decision of the senior leaders of the party in the interest of maintaining its dynamism,” the press release reads. Jatiya Party central leader found dead in Dhaka On Sunday last, GM Quader went to  New Delhi, India on a three-day visit to hold meetings with the leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and he is scheduled to return home today (Tuesday). Amid the party’s ambiguous position on joining the next polls under the current government, Raushan met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official Ganabhaban residence on Saturday night. Sylhet city polls: Jatiya Party’s mayoral candidate Babul says agents being booted out of centres Party insiders said Jatiya Party's four co-chairmen-- Ruhul Amin Hawlader, Kazi Firoz Rashid, Salma Islam, and Abu Hossain Babla--in a letter to Raushan in December last requested to take charge of the party chairperson expressing their lack of confidence in GM Quader. They said Raushan decided to remove GM Quader from the post of party chairman due to his incompetence to run the party and his unconstitutional attitude. However, Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu in a video message claimed that relieving GM Quader from his post is fake news. He said he talked to the co-chairmen whose names were used and they assured him that they did not take any such decision and they did not sign any such letter. As per the party charter, Chunnu said no one can become its chairman and remove anyone as per his/her wish. “It has to be done as per the rules.” He claimed that Jatiya Party remains united under the leadership of GM Quader. Chunnu thinks some people who were expelled from the party earlier spread the fake news using the name of Raushon  

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke had a meeting with Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Sunday. They discussed Bangladesh-UK relationships and the upcoming elections. Read: Japanese Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi  in Dhaka The UK said they encourage "credible, free, fair and participatory" elections in Bangladesh.  

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Raushan Ershad on Thursday expressed hope that the upcoming national  election will be a participatory, free, fair and impartial model election. “No one wants the recurrence of election-related violence, conflict and loss of lives in the country…,” she said while delivering her valedictory speech in Parliament.  The leader of the opposition party said that various countries, including the United States, called for the free and fair conduct of the upcoming parliamentary elections. On the contrary, Bangladesh has said that the government is determined to hold free, fair and credible elections. Read: Election won’t be held as per anyone’s prescription: Quader “The main goal of the Election Commission will be to make all the parties election-oriented. How much successful they will be in this regard is now a matter to be seen,” she said. She said that the new Election Commission does not have much time to hold the next national elections. “In the meantime, all preparations should be completed...It is expected that the Election Commission will turn the 12th Parliament election into a 'model election' through a participatory, free, fair and impartial one,” she said. She said that in a democratic system, the state will be run on the basis of the direct opinion of the people. “The Election Commission will accept the opinion of respected citizens. Voting is the medium of expression of citizens.” Read: Vote for Awami League in upcoming national election: PM tells people in Gopalganj The opposition leader mentioned that the EC is the constitutional body to organise, hold, count votes and announce the results of this voting system. “In this case, the state has also given many powers to the Election Commission during the election. The Commission may seek any assistance from the government  in the interest of free and fair elections, and the government is obliged to provide the same.” Therefore, she said, elections can be made free and fair only if the EC strives to fulfil its mandated duties. She said that the national elections are still five months away. In this connection, she requested to take necessary steps to make citizens aware about voting at the field level now. Read: Fakhrul apprehends 'three-peat' of poor elections under AL The opposition leader said that this year's budget is very important for three reasons. The global situation caused by the COVID-19  and the Ukraine-Russia war has led to an increase in the price of crude oil and the imposition of various international restrictions.” “The government was forced to accept the IMF loan. Now meeting the conditions for reforming poses a new challenge.” She said that due to various reasons, remittances have decreased and the dollar crisis has created a strain on the foreign exchange reserves. She mentioned that the life of low and middle income people has become miserable due to inflation, rise in commodity prices, unregulated syndicates in the market and some mismanagement. “The big challenge now is to provide relief to the people by controlling the market with quick special measures.” She said that the prices of all types of daily products including food products are increasing at an abnormal rate in the country's market. “Consumers are now in a suffocating situation due to continued inflation. The lower and middle classes are the most vulnerable.” Read: No election without neutral caretaker govt: Fakhrul She mentioned that the anarchy of dishonest syndicates is working more than the geo-economic influence behind the inflation of the country. She said that inflationary pressure is so severe that it can change the course of any country, even the world. “Therefore, in addition to dealing with rational price inflation, attention should be paid to these opportunity seekers - those who are taking advantage of the situation and are benefiting themselves, putting the entire country and nation in danger.” The leader of the opposition party said that due to the lack of proper monitoring and firm action by the government, the retail traders are also selling products at unreasonable prices. “Every consumer product has gone beyond people's purchasing power due to the manipulation of ultra-profitable businessmen,” she said. She said that those who have some savings are using those. “If this situation continues, the situation may get worse in the future. As a result, no matter how much development is done, if the daily life of the common people is not easy, affordable and manageable, then these developments will be meaningless to many.”   Therefore, she expects the government to be more sincere in checking inflation. The leader of the opposition party said that the information given by the Ministry of Health about the outbreak of dengue is undoubtedly worrying. In the current year, she said, more than 1800 dengue patients were admitted in different hospitals of the country. She said that this number was 310 at the same time last year. Last year no dengue patients died at this time, but this year several people died already.

Jatiya Party Chairman Ghulam Muhammad Quader has said that it is unreasonable to expect anyone to willingly lose an election under their own rule. Speaking at a media briefing held at the Jatiya Party chairman's office in Banani on Monday, Quader emphasised on  the need to separate the electoral process from the control of the government to ensure fair elections. Also read: We are ready to sacrifice anything for the sake of country: GM Quader According to the JP chairman, the existing power structure places 100 percent of the power in the hands of the Prime Minister, making it difficult to expect unbiased election outcomes. He said changing the Cabinet and Parliament alone would not address this issue. Referring to past instances of cross-partisan movements of 1990, 1996 and 2006 against the manipulation of the electoral system, Quader highlighted the importance of a caretaker government system, which was demanded by various political parties recently. Quader said: "It doesn't make sense that elections have to be held according to the Constitution. In 1991 and 2008, elections were not held as per the constitution. Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia did not always follow the constitution. The caretaker government's system has also been abolished. Therefore, it is now necessary to have a new system, so that no government can influence the electoral system." Also read: Fair election not possible under current govt : GM Quader Highlighting the absence of democracy in Bangladesh, Quader said: "If we define democracy as Government of the People, by the People, for the People, then what we have now is a government of the Awami League plus, by the Awami League plus, for the Awami League plus." He called for genuine efforts from the government to establish a permanent and fair election arrangement through sincere discussions with all stakeholders. While acknowledging that their proposed solution might not be entirely acceptable, Quader expressed the willingness of the Jatiya Party to engage in formulating a new system that ensures fair elections. He emphasised on the importance of the government's sincere participation in these discussions. The media briefing was attended by Jatiya Party Chairman's Press Secretary Khandaker Delwar Jalali, among others. Also read: US visa policy to help Bangladesh hold fair elections: GM Quader  

Declaring Bangladesh is now in dire straits, Jatiya Party chairman Ghulam Muhammad Quader has said that they are ready to sacrifice anything for the sake of the country and its people. Bangladesh is now on the edge of the abyss and it can be destroyed at any time, JP Chairman said at the bi-annual conference of the district Jatiya Party at Muktijoddha Complex premises in Munshiganj's Jubilee Road on Sunday. "The government has no reserves, much more is being borrowed than what is being accounted for by the government. Bangladesh will become bankrupt if its interest and principal repayments are made." Read: Fair election not possible under current govt : GM Quader Now the demand for foreign exchange is being met by borrowing, he added. Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said the banks of the country are now gripped by certain people. They looted the bank money and smuggled lakhs of crores abroad. "Now people are struggling to survive, they have stopped eating fish and meat. They even cannot buy lifesaving medicines and baby food", he said, adding that people are taking back their patients home from the hospital without being able to pay the expenses. Read: US visa policy to help Bangladesh hold fair elections: GM Quader Recently, the budget has been announced for FY 2023-24 but there is nothing for the working class people. What initiative has the government taken to save the common people with ration cards? the JP chief questioned. He also said that the government is carrying out mega projects by borrowing money. The government says that the country's situation is stable and huge development occurred as it has been in power for a long time. But people know the actual pattern of development, he informed. Read: People have no confidence in country’s electoral system: GM Quader    "Dhaka WASA has undertaken a project for waste disposal from Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara areas at a cost of Tk 3700 crore. When starting the work, it was seen that the waste disposal pipe line was not set up." Projects are being taken with domestic and foreign loans but nothing is being done, GM Quader added. Presided over by Jatiya Party Presidium Member and District Convenor Advocate Sheikh Muhammad Sirajul Islam the event was conducted by member secretary Jane Alam. Among others, Jatiya Party Secretary-General Mujibul Haque Chunnu, Advisor to the Chairman Md Jamal Hossain, Joint Secretary General Md Noman Mia spoke on the occasion.  

Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Saturday reiterated that free, fair and neutral elections are not possible under the incumbent government . "It has repeatedly been proved and the notion of common people that the elections to the city corporations were not held properly and accuracy of the elections were deliberately spoiled using the electronic voting machines (EVM),” he said. Read: US visa policy to help Bangladesh hold fair elections: GM Quader He came up with the remarks while exchanging views with representatives of the party’s cultural wing ‘Jatiya Sangskritik Party’ at his office in the capital’s Banani on Saturday evening, according to a media release signed by Khandaker Delwar Jalali, press secretary-2 to the party chairman. Quader, also deputy leader of the opposition party in the parliament, said intimidations were spread among people by different agencies during the elections and vote riggings through the EVMs were also made. “Supporters of the ruling party have been showing intimidation to the fellows of the opponent candidates who have not been allowed to enter the polling centres,” he said. The party chairman informed them that they have just been taking part in the elections to evaluate their might and capabilities. Read: Budget impractical, not workable: GM Quader “People witnessed how the electoral system exists in the country and voters now can say they could not cast their votes despite going to the polling centres and our participation in the elections,” he said. Underscoring the need for an accountable government, GM Quader said he has been doing politics to meet demand of the country and nation. He observed that an accountable government can be ensured through fair election. Read: People have no confidence in country’s electoral system: GM Quader    Chaired by the cultural wing President and lawmaker Sherifa Quader, the party’s Presidium Members Sunil Shovo Roy and Mostafa Al Mahmud, among others spoke at the meeting.  

Jatiya Party chairman Ghulam Muhammad Quader on Tuesday said that the new US visa policy for Bangladesh will be helpful in holding the next general election in a free, fair and credible manner. "The United States expects free, fair and neutral elections in Bangladesh. What is said in the visa policy, all goes in favour Bangladesh and its people", Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament told reporters at the circuit house in the town before attending the bi-annual conference of Sherpur district unit of the party. Also Read: Fair election not possible in current system: GM Quader "We can’t expect a free, fair and impartial election under the current government. This needs to be changed. But we need consensus on the kind of change through discussion with all parties. So we (Jatiya Party) support the US visa policy," he added. GM Quader said everyone wants free and fair elections. "We haven't received any proposal regarding the election-time government from anywhere yet. However, we are working for the welfare of the people of the country. How we will participate in the next election will be discussed later and decided," he added. Also Read: People have no confidence in country’s electoral system: GM Quader    Central leaders, including Jatiya Party Co-Chairman ABM Ruhul Amin Howladar, Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu, Member of Parliament Kazi Firoz Rashid, Presidium Member Mostafa Al Mahmud, were also present. Later, GM Quader and Jatiya Party leaders addressed the bi-annual conference of the district Jatiya Party at Shaheed Minar premises in the Chawkbazar center of the town. Also Read: Assault on on-duty journalists an unpardonable crime: GM Quader