Jatiya Party threatens to pull out of polls over law and order situation, ‘absence of level playing field’

After announcing candidates for 243 constituencies in the general election, the Jatiya Party faction led by GM Quader has threatened to withdraw from the election if their two conditions are not met.

The threat came at a press conference hosted by the party at the Lakeshore Hotel in Gulshan on Friday morning, where the party’s election candidates were announced.

The Jatiya Party might withdraw from the election if the law and order is not improved and a level playing field not ensured, its leaders said during the press conference.

The party has always respected the will of the people, said the party’s Secretary General Shameem Haider Patwary.

“The Jatiya Party has always been an election-oriented party. The precondition for conducting a fair, free, and participatory election is to maintain a stable law and order situation and ensure equal opportunities for all parties,” he said.

“But we are noting with concern that the government is failing to perform the task properly,” he said.

He urged the interim government to ensure that his party is given opportunities equal to those of other parties participating in the election.

He announced 243 names in as many constituencies to contest the upcoming general election scheduled to be held on Feb 12.