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Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Saturday accused the interim government of following the same authoritarian path as the previous administration, warning that Bangladesh could face a major political shift unless inclusive politics and institutional rights are restored.
Speaking as the chief guest at the introductory meeting the Central Convening Committee of the National Lawyers’ Federation at the Institution of Diploma Engineers in Dhaka’s Kakrail, Quader said political intolerance, repression and discrimination had intensified under the current government.
He warned that if the government failed to ensure political inclusion and strengthen democratic institutions, a major political change in the country could become inevitable.
Referring to reports by international think tanks, Quader said that even a government formed with strong public backing could not guarantee long-term stability without political consensus and democratic practice. He argued that the situation would deteriorate further unless political parties were brought into an inclusive democratic process.
The Jatiya Party chief also criticised the government’s performance, saying the ideals of last July’s anti-discrimination mass uprising were absent from the country’s governance. Instead, he alleged, the spirit of the movement was being used to justify fresh discrimination and political repression.
He claimed that harassment of political opponents in public, restrictions on their activities and attempts to ban political parties through legislation reflected a fascist mindset.
Commenting on the debate over banning the Awami League, Quader said lasting stability could not be achieved simply by excluding or suppressing a single political party. Rather, he said, political inclusion and accountability were essential for ensuring sustainable democracy.
Quader further blamed the government for failing to address the country’s political instability and economic slowdown, saying ordinary people were bearing the consequences.
He also expressed concern over growing frustration among young people, citing a lack of employment opportunities and uncertainty about the future. According to him, these conditions were pushing many towards drug abuse and criminal activities.
The Jatiya Party chairman also alleged that key state institutions, including the judiciary, had been rendered ineffective through political influence.
Among others, Jatiya Party Secretary General Barrister Shamim Haider Patwary, Presidium members Sherifa Quader, Iqbal Hossain Taposh and Arif Khan, Central Office Secretary Mahmud Alam, and senior advocate SM Shafiqul Islam Babu were present at the meeting.