'Fair election not possible under this govt': Japa to hold countrywide rally tomorrow over attack on GM Quader’s house

The Jatiya Party will hold rallies and demonstrations across the country in protest of an attack on the house of its Chairman Ghulam Muhammed Quader in Rangpur last night, reportedly by individuals who claimed to be affiliated with the National Citizen Party (NCP).

The party's Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu made the announcement while speaking at a rally organised in its central office in Dhaka's Kakrail this afternoon, reads a press statement.

"... A group of criminals claiming to be from NCP carried out a terrorist attack on his [GM Quader] house, smashing window glass and setting fire to a motorcycle," he alleged. 

Chunno also accused the government of backing "unruly student groups", and said this favouritism has caused the public to lose faith in the administration.

"Several parties, including the BNP, want a national election by December, but we believe that a fair election is not possible under the current government. We have no confidence in this government," he said.

"If the current government wants to conduct an acceptable election, it must take strict action against those engaging in terrorist activities under the guise of mob justice.

"Those who carried out the terrorist attack on GM Quader's residence must face severe punitive measures. If justice is not served for the attack, the current government will have to pay a heavy price," the party statement reads.

Speaking at the event, he challenged the constitutional legitimacy of the interim government, stating, "There is no provision in the Constitution for an interim government." 

Stating that the President may appoint advisers, including a chief adviser, he said, but they function only as his aides, not as a governing body. "There is no such thing as an adviser or chief adviser of a short-term interim government."