BNP candidate for Laxmipur-3 constituency Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee today said that he would welcome his party if it takes decision to quit the December 30 national election race.

“I will welcome if the election coordination committee of my party quits the polls as there is no atmosphere for the election in the country,” Anee, also publicity affairs secretary of BNP, told The Daily Star this evening.

He said the ruling party leaders and activists and the members of law enforcement agencies are engaged in carrying out terrorist activities in his electoral area.

“I could not carry out electioneering in my area. Under this situation, I informed my party that I would welcome its decision if it quits the polls,” the BNP leader said.

On Monday, Anee came under attack in Shantirhat area of Laxmipur upazila that left 30 of his followers including three journalists injured, the BNP leader alleged.

“My party men are being attacked. Even their residences are also being vandalised. The returning officer is not picking up my phone call,” he said.

The congenial atmosphere is totally absent in the area for holding the election in a free, fair and credible manner, the BNP leader said.

Anee is contesting the polls against Awami League candidate AKM Shajahan Kamal and Islami Andolon Bangladesh candidate Md Ibrahim.

It's Gonoforam chief Dr Kamal Hossain, not Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda, who should quit after accepting his failure, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said yesterday.

He made the comment while addressing an election rally at Latifunnessa High School ground in Cumilla's Chouddagram.

The Jatiya Oikyafront leader failed to demonstrate his leadership, Quader claimed.

“Dr Kamal's words are even more poisonous than formalin. Not the CEC but you [Kamal] should resign,” Quader said.

He also asked why Dr Kamal went to meet the CEC if he demanded his resignation.

People will vote for “boat”, the AL's electoral symbol, in the national elections on Sunday, Quader said.

"The alternatives to 'boat' are petrol bombs, burning people to death, torching educational institutions and vehicles, and blocking roads," he added.

Meanwhile, Jahangir Kabir Nanok, joint secretary general of the ruling AL, alleged the BNP-Jamaat-Oikyafront alliance was distributing illegal money and spreading false allegations and propagandas to destroy the congenial polls environment.

He made the allegations at a press briefing at the party president Shiekh Hasina's Dhanmondi office.

He said Rab arrested three men with Tk 8 crore in cash and Tk 10 crore in cheques on Tuesday. Of them, there were a businessman and a former employee of Hawa Bhaban.

They were carrying a full list of voters of a constituency and that area's BNP nominated candidate's poster with BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman's photo on it, he said.

The primary investigation suggested that the huge amount of money was intended to be distributed to instigate violence and influence polls, Nanok added.

Around Tk 150 crore was distributed across the country in the last two months, he alleged.

He also said, “Tk 200 crore was brought into the country from Dubai through hundi and illegal channels by Tarique Rahman.”

The incident hints a massive conspiracy is taking place against the country and Pakistani intelligence ISI's involvement in the upcoming polls, the AL leader further alleged.

Jatiya Party Secretary General Moshiur Rahman Ranga today claimed all members of his party are now united and there is no more partition within it.

GM Quader will discharge duties of chairman of the party while Raushan Ershad will discharge the duties of opposition leader, Ranga, also the chief whip of the opposition further said during a briefing at the JP chair’s Banani office.

The party was saved from being broken into more factions following a meeting last night, Ranga said.

He further stressed that the party is now more united and according to the announcement of the party chair the national council of Jatiya Party will be held on November 30.

The two feuding factions of Jatiya Party reportedly patched things up last night and decided that party Chairman GM Quader would remain in his post and Raushan Ershad would become the Leader of the Opposition in parliament.

They also agreed to nominate Saad Ershad, son of HM Ershad, in the by-election to Rangpur-3 constituency, which fell vacant after Ershad passed away on July 14, party insiders said.

Representatives of the two factions met at a club in Bashundhara Residential Area last night to reach an understanding.

The Election Commission’s activities will determine whether BNP and its alliance will stay in the election race till the end, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said today.

“The activities of the EC have been biased so far. If the commission wants, it can still create the atmosphere of a fair polls,” he told reporters in front of his Uttara residence this morning. The BNP leader was heading to Bogura and Rangpur for electioneering.

The BNP secretary general said, “The election has become questionable. The role of the EC and law enforcing agencies is not satisfactory at all.”

“BNP and its alliance partners had hoped that after army deployment the overall atmosphere would be improved and the election atmosphere would return but that has not happened,” Fakhrul said.

“The way violence is being carried out, opposition campaigns are being barred, which is not at all congenial for a fair election,” he alleged.

The Jatiya Party may introduce a special post for Raushan Ershad, its senior co-chairperson and opposition leader, at the upcoming council to pacify a section of party leaders who want to see her as the chairperson, party insiders said.

Raushan is likely to be made “chief patron” of the party at its next council scheduled for December 28, the insiders added.  

GM Quader, the party chairman, and top leaders loyal to him are apparently behind the move, said a party source.  

The JP will have to amend its charter at the council to create the new post, SM Faysal Chisty, a presidium member, told The Daily Star. 

The move comes against the backdrop of a High Court ruling yesterday, which questioned the legality of Quader being appointed the party chairperson without holding any council.  

The court issued a rule asking Quader and the Election Commission to explain in four weeks why his appointment should not be declared illegal, Deputy Attorney General Noor us Sadik told The Daily Star. 

Jatiya Party’s central committee member Mohammad Zahir Uddin filed the writ petition.  

Noor us Sadik said as per the constitution of the party, its office bearers would be appointed through a council, something which had not been done in Quader’s appointment.   

“Quader wants to solidify his grip on the party through the council. But Raushan madam can put up a stiff challenge,” said a JP presidium member loyal to Raushan.  

“That’s why Quader bhai wants to put Raushan madam in a ceremonial post to make her happy,” he added.  

Regarding the amendment to the party charter, a JP leader said a presidium meeting would be held in a day or two to approve the matter.  

At the council, JP might amend its charter in a bid to create a steering committee, sources said.   

The JP chairman will take advice from the steering committee in times of emergencies, said party insiders.  

Asked, JP presidium member Faysal Chisty said they were all set to hold the party’s council at the Institution of Engineers in the capital.  

He also said around 12,000 delegates, including 4,000 councillors from 74 organisational districts, are expected to participate in the council where the party’s new leadership would be elected.   

Meanwhile, JP sources said a section of leaders loyal to Raushan is trying to make her the chairperson for their own interests.  

They said they would raise the issue in the party’s presidium meeting.  

After the demise of HM Ershad on July 14, both Raushan and Quader were at loggerheads over who would become the JP chairman and leader of the opposition.  

Later, Quader was declared as the JP chairman, an appointment opposed by Raushan’s faction.  

Factions of Raushan and GM Quader, after several meetings in September, came to an understanding that Quader would remain the chairperson, while Raushan would be the opposition leader.  

Since then Quader, who had in April been announced as the chairperson by the late JP chairman HM Ershad, also his elder brother, has been holding the post unchallenged.  

CHANGES IN THE POST OF SECRETARY GENERAL? 

Jatiya Party insiders said Secretary General Moshiur Rahman Ranga might lose his post due to his recent “derogatory” remarks on Shaheed Noor Hossain, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.  

Party insiders said Ranga had lost the blessings of the ruling Awami League following his comments on Bangabandhu and Sheikh Hasina.  

Names of Kazi Firoz Rashid, Ziauddin Ahmed, Ruhul Amin Howlader and Fakhrul Imam are being discussed for the post of secretary general, said JP insiders.