Bablu blames BNP for feud in Jatiya Party

Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu has blamed the BNP for the internal feuds in Jatiya Party, which is the Opposition in Parliament but has representation in the government.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 12 Sept 2014, 07:33 PM
Updated : 12 Sept 2014, 07:44 PM

"A plot is on to split Jatiya Party. The internal feud inside JP was plotted by the BNP,” the Jatiya Party secretary general said on Friday at a rally in Dhaka.

“Supporters of BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and war criminals have infiltrated the party and are conspiring.”

His remarks came after party leaders Mashiur Rahman Ranga and Tajul Islam Chowdhury were removed from the party's Presidium and Ranga got into a row with Bablu at Parliament’s lobby on Thursday.

Hinting at the action against Ranga and Chowdhury, the secretary general said, "There is no place for war criminals in the party and BNP-Jamaat supporters won't be spared too."

Addressing party leaders and activists, he said, "Those who are plotting will be thrown into the gutter. No one will be able to break Jatiya Party."

Jatiya Party chief Ershad and his wife Raushon Ershad, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, are locked in a battle over electing Kazi Firoz Rashid the deputy leader of opposition in Parliament.

File Photo

Ershad on Wednesday fired Ranga, who currently holds the portfolio of local government, and Tajul, who is the opposition chief whip in Parliament, from the Presidium in a bid to ensure 'discipline' in the party.
But the decision showed a clear sign of deep schism in Jatiya Party.
In recent weeks, Ershad has been critical of the government and said the resignations of his party's ministers from the Cabinet were being discussed.
The duo incurred Ershad's wrath after urging him to resign from the post of the prime minister's special envoy, party sources said.
Jatiya Party leaders and activists divided into two factions ahead of the last general election that took place on Jan 5. One faction led by Ershad boycotted the polls, but the other led by Raushon went to it.
The Awami League won the BNP-boycotted parliamentary polls and formed the government for the second time in a row.
JP, with its 34 MPs, is the Opposition in the 10th Parliament.
Though presidium member Raushon is currently leading the opposition in Parliament, three JP members are part of the cabinet, too.
There has been criticism from inside the party on its dual role as the opposition and a stakeholder in the government.
Ranga and Chowdhury are known to be Raushon loyalists. Even though Bablu had contested the election despite Ershad's boycott, he is the secretary general.
But Bablu appeared to have contradicted his own claim about the BNP conspiracy at the Friday rally.
He said, "Jatiya Party is in the streets for six months protesting against the government's corruption and misrule. Its also speaking against the government in Parliament. The plotters are unhappy because of that and are conspiring against Jatiya Party."