According to Japa sources, about 30 leaders were expelled from the party after a clash with the senior leadership on the allegations of not giving nominations in the elections and not getting financial support. The pro-Roshan camp is organizing these leaders as well as several long-serving and inactive leaders at the district level and others expelled from the party to hold the council in the Institution of Engineers. Top leaders of JAPA believe that this move is being aided and abetted by the government.
Speaking to Prothom Alo on Wednesday night, pro-Roshan leader Qazi Firoz Rashid said the council to be held on March 9 will be effective. Roshan Ershad has already removed two (GM Quader and Mujibul Haq) from the leadership. He will simply lead in the Parliament. Roshan Irshad will conduct the party.
Asked if this was leading JPA to another split, Qazi Firoz Rasheed said, “At the rate at which leaders are being expelled, they will try to join other parties unless we Will not remain connected to them. Roshan Ershad's leadership will spread across the country through the March 9 council. If this leads to division, so be it. The point is whether we will get the plow election symbol or not. This will be seen after five years.”
divide five times
The Jatiya Party has seen splits five times since its inception in 1986. The last split happened when senior party leader Qazi Zafar Ahmed formed a separate party by the name of Jatiya Party. Meanwhile, apart from Qazi Zafar's party, four parties including JPA led by GM Quader have been registered in this name as political parties with the Election Commission. The other three are Jatiya Party (JP), Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) and Bangladesh Jatiya Party.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, JAPA president GM Quader said, “Many people say that the party will be divided. At present I do not see the possibility of division in the party. There can be 10 more parties in the name of Ershad with his ideology. But we are moving forward in a structured manner. In such a situation, I do not see any situation, environment or possibility of break in the party.