Former Senior Co-Chairman of the Jatiya Party (JaPa), Anisul Islam Mahmud, has been elected chairman, and Ruhul Amin Howlader has been elected general secretary at the party’s 10th National Council, organized by leaders and activists expelled from the party.
In addition, Kazi Firoz Rashid was elected senior co-chairman, and Mujibul Haque Chunnu was elected executive chairman.
The council took place on Saturday afternoon at the Emmanuel Party Center in Gulshan, Dhaka. The names were announced with the support of attending councillors by Zahurul Islam Zahid, convener of the election commission formed for the council.
During the session, Zahurul Islam proposed the names for the top posts, and with no alternative nominations, they were declared elected unopposed. He said the chairman, in consultation with others, would announce the full committee within 15 days.
In his immediate reaction, newly elected chairman Anisul Islam Mahmud said, “I promise that from today, no one will be unjustly expelled from the party. Those who work for the party will be valued. We will engage in principled politics and work for changing the fate of the people of Bangladesh.”
Newly elected general secretary Ruhul Amin Howlader stated, “With your cooperation, we will be able to work for the people of the country. I invite those who did not attend this council to join the Jatiya Party.”
The development comes amid fresh polarization within the Jatiya Party following a court order restraining party chairman GM Quader from exercising his authority.
On 5 August, the faction opposing Quader appointed Anisul Islam Mahmud as acting chairman and decided to withdraw the expulsion orders issued by Quader since the 12th National Parliamentary Election, reinstating all expelled members to their posts.
