GM Quader, chairman of Jatiya Party, the main opposition in parliament, discusses the upcoming general election, external pressure, politics and the internal feud in his party, in an exclusive interview with Rashidul Hasan of  The Daily Star.

You recently said elections under the present government would not be free and fair. Why do you think so?

After resuming power following the last election, the government highly prioritised one issue: how to win the next polls. This is not unusual – every government wants it. But what they have done so far is not normal. They have politicised everything. They have selected people who are loyal to them to be appointed as returning officers, polling officers, superintendents of police, deputy commissioners, and other officials who will carry out the election activities. They have taken preparations to hold a staged and managed election in line with their strategy. Another thing they have done is not run the country in the traditional manner. They are following the course through which BAKSAL was formed. Usually, in a government, ruling party leaders join the government and serve the people and treat everyone equally, and the administration cooperates with them. In the BAKSAL system, the ruling party rules the country with its own people. These chosen people, be it in the law enforcement agencies or the defence sector, are talking in favour of the Awami League and chanting party slogans. In the present form of government, all decisions to run the country are made by the prime minister.

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Besides, through amending the constitution, the ruling party has politicised different pillars of the state, such as parliament. The speaker [of parliament] talks and delivers speeches in the language of AL.

The lower courts are basically under the jurisdiction of the government. They are under the control of the prime minister through the president.

Thus far, the higher court has its own identity due to various reasons, although the government appoints its own people. The government took measures to control it through the 16th Amendment of the constitution, although this was not implemented later.

The rest of the constitutional posts do not have any impact in reality, and the way these posts are being filled are on a partisan basis.

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The difference between BAKSAL and the present form of government is that anyone can be a member of BAKSAL.

All the organisations that are supposed to talk about the people and their rights have been taken under the control of AL and its leader. In reality, Awami League Plus has been formed, which is controlling everything in the country – including the elections and the Election Commission.

Therefore, I will say that there is no democracy in Bangladesh at present, if we define democracy to be a system of the people, by the people, for the people. Now, it is the government of AL Plus, by AL Plus, for AL Plus.

The opportunist section of our society is looting the country's wealth in various ways and syphoning it out of the country. This is only possible if the government has no accountability. This system has been put in place for this purpose.

I am not sure whether any big revolution will happen, but we think a government can be changed if a free and fair election is held. If that government wants to engage in any anti-people activity, people have the ability to change that government through their votes.

Election battles in Bangladesh will remain limited between the two big parties until the voting system is changed. And we will have to join one of them. Any third alliance apart from these two will not work here. Given this perspective, we will decide on this matter closer to the election. Until then, I think it is better to keep all the options open.

How is it possible, then, to hold a free and fair election in Bangladesh? According to the constitution, there will be a poll-time government under the incumbent prime minister.

As per the existing system, 100 percent of the power is vested in the prime minister. Therefore, keeping the prime minister in her post and changing all others, including the entire cabinet and parliament, won't bring any results. It is madness to expect that the prime minister will lose an election that will be held under her authority.

The electoral system will have to be out of the purview of the government's power. Back when Sheikh Hasina was the opposition leader, she had demanded to keep the caretaker system for good. But now, we need a new system.

Can you elaborate on this new system?

There may be various options regarding this new system. But I don't want to give away any details. We have some ideas. When we see some fruitful discussions taking place and the government showing interest, we will present our ideas.

Our prescribed system may not be 100 percent correct. We want to discuss it in a forum to find out the best way. And the government will have to join either wilfully or through persuasion or pressure. Until the government agrees, there is no point in sharing such ideas.

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Are you talking about something like the caretaker government system?

No, a new system should be introduced in which the government won't be able to influence or control the electoral system.

Once, we fought for the caretaker government. But then we realised the caretaker government system had failed as it could be manipulated and corrupted, so we abandoned it.

We have a new proposal. But first, we believe the government will have to have the mindset of accepting such a proposal.

How would you evaluate the recently held city corporation elections? In most cases, Jatiya Party candidates did very poorly and even lost their security deposits in those elections. But you are also talking about contesting in all 300 constituencies.

If you want me to talk about this right now, I will say that this is not practical, our politics has been subjected to conspiracy many times and a division has been created among us. On different occasions, we were forced to work against our party decisions. Confusion was created among the people about the politics of our party. Our target now is to revamp and re-organise the party with a focus on the weak areas.

We want to do proper politics. Only then will the people be encouraged to join our party. And we will get quality candidates to contest the elections. We are hopeful in this regard.

How do you evaluate the US visa policy, and the letters from EU MPs and US Congressmen?

About the visa policy, I will say that if they seriously implement this, there will be an impact.

It is those loyal to the government who carry out various acts following the instruction of the government to amass illegal wealth. In most cases, they transfer that wealth to the Western world where their children are living and they, too, plan on living there at some stage. If they feel uncomfortable about doing that, many of them may keep away from carrying out the government's orders. Many won't be directly involved. About the letters of US Congressmen and EU MPs, they have spoken in favour of Bangladesh and portrayed the real picture of the country. The people of Bangladesh will be benefited by these letters.

A new system should be introduced in which the government won't be able to influence or control the electoral system. Once, we fought for the caretaker government. But then we realised the caretaker government system had failed as it could be manipulated and corrupted, so we abandoned it. We have a new proposal. But first, we believe the government will have to have the mindset of accepting such a proposal.

But isn't that tantamount to interference into the internal affairs of Bangladesh?

Those who are saying that are acknowledging their own fault. Why are those people taking this demand for a free and fair election in our country as a threat? Because they are afraid of getting in trouble if elections are free and fair.

Are you going to form an electoral alliance with the Awami League or BNP?

Election battles in Bangladesh will remain limited between the two big parties until the voting system is changed. And we will have to join one of them. Any third alliance apart from these two will not work here. Given this perspective, we will decide on this matter closer to the election. Until then, I think it is better to keep all the options open.

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Internal feud in Jatiya Party, especially between you and Raushan Ershad, has been going on for years. Why is that?

It is not as though there is a division, so there is no question of resolving it. Raushan Ershad has time and again told me that she was not well and did not want to continue in politics. She understands and has told me that the party will not survive without me. The government is actually behind all this and Raushan herself is not doing anything. The government for a long time has been trying to make our party weak and create divisions. And such efforts are still going on. This is actually not benefiting the government; rather, it leads to losses for them.

In which direction is Bangladesh's politics heading?

It is on an uncertain path. This BAKSAL-like government system may continue for a long time as only they will win if the election is held in this manner. There will be no other party and politics in the country. Bangladesh is heading towards an entirely autocratic system. I think it is just not possible for us to create any momentum against it. The government has done two things very effectively: creating fear among the people so that they are afraid to speak up, and a lack of faith in the future. Nothing will change, everything will be the same, everything will be managed.

Ending all speculation, Jatiya Party has announced that it will run in the general election as it has assurance from different stakeholders that the polls will be free and fair.

JP Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu made the announcement at a press conference at the party chairman's Banani office yesterday.

The declaration came two days after a delegation of JP leaders, loyal to party Chief Patron Raushan Ershad, in a meeting with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan raised the concern that their participation in the polls hangs in the balance as party Chairman GM Quader was yet to make the final decision in this regard.

Chunnu yesterday said the party has completed almost all preparations for the January 7 parliamentary polls.

"We have always said that we want an environment of trust which would enable voters to go to the polling stations and cast their ballots freely.

"We have been assured by all the stakeholders concerned, including the Election Commission, that the polls will be free, fair, and acceptable, and the voters will be able to exercise their franchise freely," he said.

Chunnu said the JP chairman trusted the assurance and decided to run in the election.

"On the instructions of the party chairman, I am officially announcing that Jatiya Party will participate in the election."

Responding to a question, the JP secretary general said the party will not join any electoral alliance, and that it will field candidates in all 300 constituencies.

"We will not go for seat-sharing with any other party. We hope that we will be able to put up a strong contest in all 300 constituencies," Chunnu said.

Meanwhile, the JP has sold a total of 1,510 nomination forms over the last three days. The party started selling nomination papers on Monday.

The party earned Tk 4.53 crore from the sales of nomination forms at Tk 30,000 each, Mahmud Alam, joint office secretary of JP, told The Daily Star.

Opposition leader Raushan, her son Rahgir Almahe Ershad and other JP leaders loyal to Raushan were yet to collect nomination papers, said party sources.

The sale of nomination forms will continue till 4:00pm today.

After interviewing the nomination seekers from November 24 to 26, the JP will make public the final list of its nominees on November 27.

The ruling Awami League yesterday drew heavy flak from its left-leaning allies for ignoring them in taking many crucial political decisions  and also for already starting "electioneering" for the next national polls.

At a meeting of the 14-Party alliance, they said the AL calls them only when it faces a crisis, said top leaders of the AL-led alliance.     

The leftist parties also said they are disappointed that the AL does not  give them space in the government and does not attach importance to the alliance.

The meeting was presided over by Amir Hossain Amu, the alliance coordinator and veteran AL leader. It was held at his  Eskaton residence.

According to meeting sources, leaders of the allies said the AL president has already started electioneering and seeking votes for 'boat' -- the ruling party's electoral symbol.

They told Amu that they were in the dark whether the AL would participate in the next election unilaterally or as an alliance, and that they did not know if they had any role to play as the AL has already begun campaigning.

The AL took part in the 2008, 2014 and 2018 elections under the 14-party electoral alliance, formed in 2008. 

Just before the 2008 election, the Grand Alliance was formed with the Jatiya Party.

Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haq Inu, Jatiya Party (Manju) Chairman Anwar Hossain Manju, Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal General Secretary Dilip Barua,  and Tarikat Federation President Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizvandari, among others, spoke at the meeting yesterday.

Inu pointed out that the AL had already started electioneering unilaterally and wanted to know whether the alliance partners should also do so or sit idle.

Meeting sources further said Dilip Barua alleged that a number of financial scams took place in recent years and the government will have to put a stop to these in order to regain the people's confidence.

He also said the BNP wants an anarchic situation.

If the government fails to contain financial corruption, it will help the opposition party to implement its "ill motive", which may lead to a constitutional crisis, he added.

Dilip suggested the AL take initiatives to help people regain confidence in the banking sector.

At the meeting, Manju also raised the issue of financial corruption and inflation.

If the current inflation continues, it will create labour unrest, meeting sources quoted him as saying.

He asked whether the AL has any plans if workers take to the streets due to the inflation.

Menon expressed disappointment over "Khela Hobey", phrases used by some AL leaders lately. "Such a slogan doesn't go with the character and spirit of the 14-party alliance."

He also said such a slogan will only push the country towards confrontations and suggested that it be gotten rid of, said sources.

Ismail Hossain, acting secretary of the National Awami Party, asked why the government chose to start electioneering a year ahead of the national polls and at a time when it is facing inflation and a financial crisis.

Responding to the allegations and frustrations, Amu said the AL will start a programme under the banner of the 14-party alliance, after the party's national council, slated for December 24.

He also told them to revive the alliance at the district level, said sources.

Amu added that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already announced that the AL will participate in the next election, scheduled for January 2024, under the 14-party alliance.

At a post-meeting briefing, Amu told reporters the meeting decided to face in unison the BNP and its "ill motive to destablise the country".

Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu today said those who were expelled from the party spread the fake news that Raushan Ershad declared herself chairman of the party.

"There was no such incident in Jatiya Party and there is no scope of this happening," he told The Daily Star.

Sources close to Raushan, the party's chief patron and leader of the opposition in parliament, said that she made no such announcements. 

Chunnu said the expelled people had used the name of Raushan to make up the fake news.

"I already talked with JP leaders who were said to have signed a letter [expressing no confidence in incumbent Chairman GM Quader] to Raushan Ershad and they told me that they hadn't signed any such letter," Chunnu also said.

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According to the party's charter, there is no scope for anyone to become chairman of JP as per his or her will, neither can anyone relieve any leader from the party in such a manner, he said.

Earlier today, two press releases on two Whatsap groups, where Jatiya Party news is disseminated, said Raushan had declared herself the Jatiya Party Chairman. 

The Daily Star was not able to independently verify the authenticity of the press releases. 

GM Quader is currently in India on a three-day visit, and is scheduled to return today. 

The Jatiya Party suffered a debacle in yesterday's national polls as it won only 11 seats, sources at the party chairman's office said.

This is the party's worst polls results since the restoration of democracy in the country in 1991 following the fall of late president HM Ershad.

In the 1991 polls, the JP vied for 221 seats and won 35.

In the 1996 and 2001 polls, the party bagged 32 and 14 seats respectively. The JP participated in the 2008 polls under the Awami League-led grand alliance and won 27 seats.

"We always feared we might be sacrificed after being drawn into the race, and a real one-party rule would be established ...."

— GM Quader Chairman, Jatiya Party

In the lopsided polls in 2014, 34 JP candidates became victorious. In 2018, the party secured 22 seats running in the election under the AL-led grand alliance.

Yesterday's 11 winners are Hafiz Uddin Ahmed (Thakurgaon-3), GM Quader (Rangpur-3), AKM Mostafizur Rahman (Kurigram-1), Shariful Islam Jinnah (Bogura-2), Ashrafuzzaman (Satkhira-2), Ruhul Amin Hawlader (Patuakhali-1), Golam Kibria Tipu (Barishal-3), Mujibul Haque Chunnu (Kishoreganj-3), AKM Salim Osman (Narayanganj-5), Masud Uddin Chowdhury (Feni-3), and Anisul Islam Mahmud (Chattogram-5), JP Joint Office Secretary Mahmud Alam told The Daily Star.

The JP fielded candidates in 265 constituencies this time. But around 230 party nominees had been largely inactive in campaigning, party insiders said.

After hectic discussions between senior leaders of the AL and the JP, the ruling party left 26 seats for the JP.All the 11 winners contested in those shared constituencies.

Meanwhile, JP Chairman GM Quader yesterday said, "We always feared we might be sacrificed after being drawn into the race, and a real one-party rule would be established ...."

 It will be clear in the afternoon whether our concern is justified.

"As we have joined the electoral race, there is no scope for boycotting right now. We have to announce programmes after seeing the polls results," he said replying to a query from a journalist after overseeing voting in Rangpur-3.

JP presidium member Sherifa Quader, wife of Quader, lost the polls to Dhaka-18. Among the other party candidates who lost the elections include Shamim Haider Patwary from Gaibandha-1 and Fakhrul Imam from Mymensingh-8.

Yesterday, 11 JP candidates withdrew halfway through the election alleging widespread irregularities, including stuffing of ballots and capturing of polling centres, in their respective constituencies.

In the around 10 previous days, a total of 31 JP picks formally announced withdrawal from the race alleging that the polls would be one-sided and would not be free and fair, said JP Joint Office Secretary Mahmud.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Rejaul Razi Swapan Chowdhury, JP nominee for Thakurgaon-1, alleged that supporters of the AL candidate captured almost all polling centres in his constituency with the help of local administration and police.

"My polling agents were driven out of different voting centres by the Awami League candidate's men.

"I visited many polling centres and found the allegations to be true. Around 2:00pm, I announced quitting the election protesting vote-rigging," he said.

Mohammad Ali and several other JP candidates echoed Rejaul's allegations.

The 11 candidates who quit the polls raceyesterday are Rejaul Razi Swapan Chowdhury (Thakurgaon-1), Md Delowar (Lalmonirhat-2), Johurul Haq (Jashore-4), Mohammad Ali (Tangail-1), Enayet Hossain (Mymensingh-2), Mir Shamsul Alam Lipton (Jamalpur-3), ANM Rafiqul Islam Selim (Narsingdi-2), Alamgir Sikdar Loton (Narayanganj-2), Yahiya Chowdhury (Sylhet-2), Sazzad Rashid (Chandpur-4) and Nurul Amin Sikdar Vhuttu (Cox's Bazar-4).