JP timid inside JS, critical of govt outside

Jatiya Party in parliament criticises the government lightly for its mistakes. But outside, the party is highly critical of the government.

JP leaders, particularly Chairman GM Quader, at different programmes came down heavily on the Awami League government for "widespread corruption, misrule and absence of good governance in the country".

He, however, at the Jatiya Sangsad spoke softly on other issues.

Political analysts and parliamentary experts said the JP, which took part in the 2018 national election under the AL-led grand alliance, does not want to embarrass Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by making sharp criticism of her government as the next election equation is still not clear.

Addressing the House on the thanksgiving motion on the president's speech on February 8, Quader, also the deputy leader of the opposition, mainly focused on road accidents and air pollution.

He also urged the prime minister to give the Rangpur City Corporation mayor the status of a state minister. Towards the end of his speech, he however spoke on a serious issue like phone-tapping.

In his concluding speed at that parliament session the following day, Quader mostly talked about air pollution.

During the concluding sitting of the 20th session of the current parliament on November 6 last year, the JP chief in his 30-minute speech also didn't talk about any issues that could embarrass the government.

Instead, he spoke about the country's falling forex reserves, increasing unemployment and dengue outbreak.

Quader at a views-exchange meeting with the JP leaders in the capital recently lambasted the government.

"Our government does not stand by the poor and distressed people. Instead, it stands by those who have made thousands of crores of taka through looting," he alleged.

The JP chief said "politics of looting" has started in the country and those who looted money from banks are being made ministers by the government.

On October 23 last year, the JP chief at a discussion in the capital said Bangladesh is "champion in mismanagement" as there is no democracy in the country. He said the country is seeing an "autocratic rule in the name of democracy".

Contacted, Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said the role of JP has always reflected inconsistency since the formation of the 10th parliament.

He said the JP was unsure of whether it was an opposition party or part of the ruling coalition. "Their leaders have admitted many times that theirs was neither a ruling nor an opposition party."

Of late, the JP has also been suffering from a leadership crisis which has visibly weakened its organisational standing, said Iftekharuzzaman.

The apparent anti-government rhetoric by JP leaders outside parliament may be intended to salvage the party's public image from further damage, he added.

On the other hand, the party's contrasting narratives in parliament may be aimed at keeping the option open in case the role of a "loyal opposition" becomes available again, observed the TIB executive director.

Parliamentary affairs expert Prof Nizam Uddin Ahmed said the JP is actually a "part of the AL-led grand alliance".

"They talked against the government on streets so that people consider them an opposition party. But they are afraid of the government and that's why they are not vocal about the allegations of widespread corruption against the government.

"Moreover, the election equation is still not clear. If the BNP takes part in the next general election, the election politics will be different. In that case, Jatiya Party may contest the polls under the Awami League-led alliance. They will not get that chance if they don't have the blessings of the prime minister," he said.

Asked about the issue, Quader said the ruling AL lawmakers raise a hue and cry and create obstacles if he speaks against the government.

"That's why I speak on different public interest issues at the beginning of my speeches in parliament," he added.

After the last national election, the JP decided to join the AL government.

The party, which is well-known for flip-flopping, later decided to serve as the main opposition in parliament with 26 MPs.

The JP became the main opposition in the 10th parliament, formed after the 2014 national election, which was boycotted by the BNP-led 20-party alliance. Three JP lawmakers were also made ministers.