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Amid escalating tensions surrounding the Jatiya Party’s (JaPa) central conference, Chairman GM Quader on Monday sacked three senior leaders from all party positions, including their primary membership. The leaders are Senior Co-Chairman Anisul Islam Mahmud, Co-Chairman ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, and General Secretary Md. Mujibul Haque (Chunnu). Additionally, GM Quader replaced Mujibul Haque with Co-Chairman Shamim Haider Patwary as the new general secretary. Over the past week, a total of 11 leaders have been removed from the party, a move some party members are calling GM Quader’s “purge politics.”
The three sacked leaders face allegations of breaching party discipline. However, they told that they intend to challenge GM Quader’s decision, which was made under the authority of Article 20/1/Ka of the party’s constitution. They plan to take legal action against what they describe as an authoritarian clause, arguing that the dismissals and the appointment of the new general secretary are undemocratic, a violation of the party’s constitution, and a manifestation of one-person-centric autocracy.
In a statement issued by the party’s central office on Monday afternoon, it was announced that GM Quader, exercising his constitutional authority, had sacked General Secretary Md. Mujibul Haque and appointed Shamim Haider Patwary as the new general secretary. Shortly after, Patwary expressed gratitude to the chairman and sought cooperation from party leaders and workers to strengthen the organization.
The conflict stems from demands to amend Article 20/1/Ka, which grants the chairman sweeping powers. Anisul Islam Mahmud, Ruhul Amin Howlader, and Mujibul Haque have been vocal about reforming this clause to curb unilateral authority. GM Quader and his supporters, however, view these demands as a conspiracy to oust him from leadership.
Two of the sacked leaders had already declared their candidacy for chairman and general secretary in the upcoming conference, raising questions about whether GM Quader preemptively removed them to eliminate competition.
Party sources revealed that, in addition to the three senior leaders, eight others were sacked in the past week: presidium members Mostafa Al Mahmud, Nazma Akhtar, Nasir U Mahmud, Jasimuddin Bhuiyan, Arifur Rahman Khan, Jahirul Islam Jahir, Solaiman Alam Sheth, and central office secretary (2) M A Rajjak Khan. A party source claimed these seven were removed for failing to pay monthly dues for a year, per a decision from an October 27 presidium meeting.
Anisul Islam Mahmud alleged to *Prothom Alo* that discussions about the chairman’s financial irregularities and corruption took place in a prior presidium meeting, and demands for accountability prompted these dismissals. “We want democracy in the party and collective leadership based on everyone’s opinions. Article 20/1/Ka must be amended because it’s unconstitutional, undemocratic, and against justice. GM Quader refuses to change it,” he said.
Before their dismissal, Anisul Islam Mahmud and Ruhul Amin Howlader issued a statement opposing Shamim Haider Patwary’s appointment as general secretary, calling it highly undemocratic, unconstitutional, and a direct violation of the party’s constitution. They argued that such actions threaten the party’s existence and affirmed that Md. Mujibul Haque remains the legitimate and respected general secretary. They further stated that, with the national conference already announced, any appointments, dismissals, or expulsions are illegal and invalid under the party’s constitution.
In response to the situation, Anisul Islam Mahmud and his allies have called a press conference for Tuesday. GM Quader’s supporters also announced a press conference the following day to present their stance.
