Jatiya Party launches election campaign amid worries over fairness, level playing field

GM Quader will kick off campaign on Thursday with visits to shrines and family graves

The Jatiya Party is heading into the campaign in 196 constituencies, raising concerns that include possible “election engineering”.

Secretary General Shameem Haider Patwary said there is anxiety among candidates over potential obstacles to campaigning and the absence of a “level playing field”.

Chairman GM Quader will begin the election campaign in Rangpur with visits to the shrine of Maulana Keramat Ali Jaunpuri, his parents’ graves in Munshipara, and the grave of the party’s founder, Hussein Muhammad Ershad.

Shameem will begin his election campaign on Thursday as well in his constituency of Gaibandha-1. The constituency covers Sundarganj Upazila.

On Dec 26, the party announced candidates in 243 constituencies. With the candidacies of nominees in several seats being cancelled, the party ultimately has 196 candidates in the race.

Speaking to bdnews24.com on Wednesday night, Shameem said: “Our campaign will start tomorrow. But there is still no level playing field. At the same time, there is a possibility of engineered voting. In short, despite various concerns and anxieties, we are entering the election.”

The parliamentary polls are scheduled to be held on Feb 12. The referendum on implementing the July Charter will also be held simultaneously.