Jatiya Party hits turbulence over GS appointment
There has been division and tension among the top leaders of Jatiya Party over the post of secretary general, which has been vacant since Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu passed away on Saturday.
Bablu was first appointed as secretary general in 2014 by the then party chairman HM Ershad, but was removed from the post in 2016.
Last year, current Chairman GM Quader made Bablu secretary general again after removing Moshiur Rahman Ranga from the post.
JP insiders said many senior leaders are interested in the post.
But it was learnt from party sources that the top leadership wants to give it to someone relatively young, who has a good image inside and outside parliament.
Sources in JP said the party high-ups are considering Additional Secretary General (Rangpur Division) and JP lawmaker (Gaibandha-1) Shameem Haider Patwari for the post of secretary general.
After the news spread inside the party, some senior leaders held a meeting with the party Co-chairman Kazi Firoz Rashid on Monday.
They expressed outrage over the move to appoint Patwari as the secretary general, a JP leader present at the meeting told The Daily Star yesterday.
Preferring to remain anonymous, the JP leader said senior leaders at the meeting spoke in favour of appointing one of them to the post of secretary general.
JP Co-chairmen ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader, Moshiur Rahman Ranga, Mujibul Haque Chunnu, Syed Abu Hossain Babla, Additional Secretary General (Khulna) Shahidur Rahman, Presidium Member Shafiqul Islam, and Advisory Council Member Zahirul Alam were among those present at the meeting.
"Many senior leaders came to my office after news spread that Shameem Haider Patwari may be made secretary general of the party. They expressed their disappointment and anger," Firoz Rashid told different media outlets on Monday.
"Shameem Haider Patwari has been in Jatiya Party politics for two or three years. If he is made secretary general, the senior leaders will not accept him," a senior JP leader, wishing not to be named, told The Daily Star.
According to party sources, two former secretaries general Ruhul Amin Hawlader and Moshiur Rahman Ranga, Syed Abu Hossain Babla, lawmaker from Dhaka-4 (Shyampur-Demra), Additional Secretary General Shahidur Rahman and Shameem Haider Patwari are interested in becoming the secretary general of the main opposition.
JP Chairman GM Quader told different media outlets on Monday that the post of secretary general is an administrative post in the party and according to the JP's constitution, it is below the post of chief patron and co-chairman of the party.
"I don't understand why the co-chairmen of the party are so greedy for this position."
Party sources said Shameem has drawn attention for his active participation and knowledgeable speeches inside and outside parliament on various issues.
"Young voters may be attracted to Jatiya Party if he is made the secretary general. The party's image may also improve as he is a clean-image politician," said a JP presidium member.
Considering these aspects, the JP high-ups are thinking of making him secretary general, the JP leader said wishing not to be named.
GM Quader said according to Article 20/1 (1) A of the party's constitution, the chairman has the power to appoint anyone to the post of secretary general.
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