Jatiya Party (JaPa) Chairman GM Quader claimed on Friday that his party was “blackmailed” into joining elections under the Awami League's tenure, saying that their involvement was far from voluntary, reports Dhaka Tribune.
At an emergency press conference called at the Jatiya Party headquarters in Banani on Friday -- following an attack, vandalism and arson at their central office in Bijoynagar, Dhaka, a day before -- GM Quader explained that his party did not participate in elections spontaneously; it was through force.
He accused former prime minister Sheikh Hasina of “coercing” the Jatiya Party into participating, adding that they faced unfair treatment and political manipulation.
The conference was attended by JaPa Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu, among other senior party members.
GM Quader said, “We stood with students during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. We prayed for them after offering our prayers. But the BNP has plotted conspiracies over the movement.”
“We provided good governance. We did not engage in land grabbing. We pursued development and reforms. As a result, Ershad did not need bodyguards to move around,” he added.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
