Staff Correspondent

Jatiya Party (JaPa) intends to see the deposed Awami League in the next general election.

The party's chairman GM Quader has also said that more than 50 per cent of the people of Bangladesh support JaPa and Awami League.

He claimed it while speaking at a discussion organized at the party chairman's office at Banani in the capital on Satuday (December 7) in observance of 'December 6'.

Though other political parties observe the day as the 'Day of the Fall of Autocrat' marking the fall of the Ershad regime in the mass upsurge in 1990, JaPa observes the day as "Constitution Protection Day."

Following the ouster of Awami League government through the student-people led mass uprising in August last, Jatiya Party has also been under pressure. The party's central office has also recently been burned down terming it "accomplice of fascism." The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement leaders have also demanded excluding Awami League from the next general election.

In this context, GM Quader said, "Justice should be maintained while taking any decision to keep any political party outside the election."

Stressing the importance of participation of all political parties in the election, he told the interim government that "participation of all political parties must be ensured if election takes place. If you say, or not say, we all undermine Sheikh Hasina for holding elections unilaterally."

"Would you do the same thing now? Do you want to proceed to that direction? It would be unfortunate."

The JaPa chairman also said if the activities of a political party are not unlawful, it should not be right to keep it outside the election and political process.

He said, "If someone is involved in terrorist activities, arrest and punish him. It is the rule. Are all the people of an organization bad?"

Following the discussion, journalists asked GM Quader whether the Jatiya Party wanted Awami League in the next election.

In reply, he said: "Of course. There'll be all political parties. All parties should take part in the election. You have given them registration, so why you shouldn't allow them to join the election," he asked.

Quader also criticized the exclusion of Awami League and Jatiya Party from the call for unity to all political parties by the interim government's chief adviser Muhammad Yunus.

AL-JaPa hold 50% support of people

Referring to the statics of the results of general elections of the past, GM Quader said more than 50 per cent of voters across the country support Awami League and Jatiya Party. In support of his claim, he referred to the results of the elections of 2001 and 2008.

King's Party being floated

The present interim government is trying to float a political party. "If this is done, there will be no level-playing field in the election," he said.

"DCs, SPs and police officials are now following the orders of whom? Do our people be able to cast their ballots? Do our workers be able to stay at the polling centres? They are being sent to jail suing in false cases," Quader alleged.

JaPa chairman alleged that his party leaders and workers were facing various repression and tortures. Though it is their constitutional rights to hold meetings, rallies and processions, they are not being allowed to do that.

JaPa Secretary General Mujibul Huq Chunnu and co-chairman ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader were also present.