Senior Jatiya Party Leaders Move to Oust GM Quader

Dhaka, June 18, 2025: Jatiya Party (JaPa) Chairman GM Quader is facing an internal challenge as a significant faction of senior leaders is working to remove him from leadership ahead of the party’s 10th central conference. Led by Senior Co-Chairman Anisul Islam Mahmud and Co-Chairman ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, this group is preparing to hold the conference on June 28 at the party’s central office in Kakrail.

Party sources reveal that Anisul Islam Mahmud will contest for chairman and Ruhul Amin Howlader for general secretary. They plan to amend the controversial Article 20(A) of the party constitution, which grants the chairman unrestricted power to appoint, remove, or replace individuals in any position. The leaders have labeled this clause as undemocratic and authoritarian.

GM Quader and his allies claim this move is a result of the political shift following the August 5 mass uprising, aimed at influencing the upcoming national election. They compare it to the 2014 election when a faction led by Rowshan Ershad and Anisul Islam Mahmud participated in the polls with the Awami League despite HM Ershad’s boycott call. Quader said, “These leaders are why JaPa is branded as an Awami League ally. They are always seeking personal gains but will not succeed.”

On May 20, the party’s presidium decided to hold the conference on June 28 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, with a backup plan for Kakrail if the venue was unavailable. However, GM Quader announced the postponement on June 16, citing the cancellation of the venue booking. Anisul Islam Mahmud and Ruhul Amin Howlader called this decision “undemocratic” and vowed to proceed with the conference at Kakrail, supported by Rowshan Ershad’s faction, including previously expelled leaders like Kazi Firoz Rashid, Syed Abu Hossain, Abdus Sattar, and Kazi Mamunur Rashid.

General Secretary Mujibul Haque Chunnu also supports amending Article 20(A), stating, “This clause is dictatorial, leaving me insecure.” This has intensified pressure on Quader, who, along with his wife Sherifa Quader, is already facing murder cases, bank account seizures, and Anti-Corruption Commission probes. This internal conflict poses a significant threat to his leadership.

AI/MR