Jatiya Party (JaPa) Chairman GM Quader on Monday relieved three senior leaders – Anisul Islam Mahmud, ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, and Mujibul Haque Chunnu – from all party posts and positions.
JaPa Press Secretary Khandaker Delwar Jalali confirmed the development while talking to the media on Monday night.
He said, "Including these three, a total of ten individuals have so far been relieved from the party. Earlier, seven presidium members were removed."
The development came shortly after the appointment of former Gaibandha lawmaker Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary as the new secretary general of the party.
Soon after the new appointment, GM Quader also removed the three senior party leaders for violating party discipline, said a party press release.
According to the media release, district and city-level party leaders at a meeting held on June 25 raised the allegations of breaching party discipline against the three senior leaders and called for action.
Later on 28 June, a meeting of the party presidium decided to relieve the three of all party responsibilities.
"Exercising the authority given by the party constitution, GM Quader has relieved the three leaders from all party posts, including primary membership," the press release said.
It said the decision has already been put into effect.
'Chairman's decision replacing Chunnu 'one-sided', goes against party values'
Tensions within the Jatiya Party have worsened, as the party now seems divided into two rival groups over its leadership.
The issue became more visible last month after the party announced its upcoming national council.
The party earlier planned to hold the national council on 28 June at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.
However, on 16 June, Chairman GM Quader postponed the event, saying the venue was unavailable.
In defiance of this decision, a group of senior leaders led by Co-Chairmen Anisul Islam Mahmud and ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader announced that the council would go ahead as planned. They later withdrew this decision.
Meanwhile, Co-Chairmen Anisul Islam Mahmud and Ruhul Amin Hawlader issued a joint statement opposing the appointment of Patwary.
They called the decision highly undemocratic, unconstitutional and a direct violation of the party's charter.
The two leaders accused GM Quader of taking one-sided, autocratic actions, which they warned could seriously harm the party's future.
In their joint statement, they said Mujibul Haque is the party's legitimate and respected Secretary General.
"No appointment or dismissal can be considered valid before the announced national council," the statement said.
They also said removing Mujibul Haque without any reason and appointing Patwary without consultation clearly goes against party discipline and democratic values.
"Such a decision breaks down the party's internal democratic system."
