JP braced for a flare-up

When Leader of the Opposition Raushan Ershad returns home on November 27, the tension between the two factions of Jatiya Party is likely to grow.

The situation has already become worse with pro-Raushan leader AKM Abdur Rouf Manik collecting party ticket for contesting the December 27 mayoral polls to Rangpur City Corporation. The JP has nominated incumbent Mayor Mostafizur Rahman.

Leaders loyal to Raushan said they will start carrying out party activities extensively after having the opposition leader amongst them.

However, leaders loyal to Quader think they will face difficulties as the government is backing Raushan.

Quader is already in hot water due to a court order barring him from taking any political decision regarding the party.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Golam Moshi, political secretary to the leader of the opposition, said JP leaders and activists feel excited as Raushan, also the chief patron of the party, is returning home after five months.

"She will work to unite the party leaders and activists and strengthen the organisation," said Moshi, also a former Bangladesh ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

The Quader faction expressed frustration as the party activities almost came to a halt after the Dhaka court injunction on October 31.

The court order came following an application filed by former JP lawmaker Ziaul Haque Mridha.

Mridha, a former adviser to the JP chief, was expelled from the party on September 17 for "breaking party discipline".

Rejecting a petition filed on behalf of Quader seeking lifting of the injunction, First Joint District Judge's Court of Dhaka on November 16 said the JP chief could not take any political decision regarding the party as the injunction order was in force.

Raushan will return home after receiving treatment in Bangkok for about five months. The opposition leader travelled to the Thai capital for treatment on July 5 after attending the budget session of parliament.

Aggrieved over Quader's recent sharp criticism of the government, AL high-ups is backing Raushan to put pressure on the JP chairman, said JP insiders.

Raushan all of a sudden on August 31 convened the party's 10th national council on November 26, creating a fresh rift between the two top JP leaders.

The opposition leader, however, later postponed the event.

Pro-Raushan leaders said they will again start working for holding the party council after her return.

Sources in the JP told this newspaper that pro-Raushan faction has planned to remove Quader from the party's helm in the council and take control of the organisation.

The rift between the two factions intensified after the Jatiya Party Parliamentary Party at a meeting on September 1 decided to remove Raushan from the post of the leader of the opposition and replace her with Quader.

The JP chief is now the deputy leader of the opposition.

Differences developed between Raushan and Quader over taking control of JP when party founder HM Ershad became sick in early 2019. The rift grew following the demise of Ershad in July that year.