Highlights:
- Rivalry between JaPa and Gono Odhikar has escalated since Awami League’s fall
- Friday’s rally in Dhaka turned violent, injuring at least 50, including Nurul Haque Nur
- Gono Odhikar demands JaPa’s deregistration, calling it an Awami League ally
- JaPa denies the charges, accusing Gono Odhikar of acting as a political proxy
Tensions between Jatiyo Party (JaPa) and Gono Odhikar Parishad have been growing since the toppling of the Awami League government last year, with fiery rhetoric often spilling into vandalism and mutual accusations.
On Friday evening, that hostility escalated into violent clashes, leaving dozens injured, including Gono Odhikar President Nurul Haque Nur.
Since the July-August mass uprising, Gono Odhikar has demanded the deregistration of the JaPa, calling it an Awami League ally. Following the Awami League’s ban, the group staged multiple demonstrations pressing for JaPa’s deregistration and the arrest of its leaders. Since 5 August, it has organised at least 10 anti-JaPa programmes.
On 12 May, Gono Odhikar submitted a petition to the chief election commissioner seeking cancellation of the registrations of JaPa. Earlier in Barishal, a Gono Odhikar leader filed a case against JaPa Chairman GM Quader, former Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu, and 280 others.
On 31 October, Quader accused Gono Odhikar and allied groups, including Students Against Discrimination, of vandalising and torching JaPa’s central office.
Against this backdrop, Gono Odhikar staged a pre-scheduled rally on Friday in front of its headquarters, calling for a ban on JaPa and other “allies of fascism,” as well as the arrest of their leaders.
At the rally, President Nurul Haque Nur declared, “In this Bangladesh after the mass uprising, there will be no place for fascist politics. We urge the government to immediately ban JaPa. If it does not, the people themselves – whether you call them a mob or a pressure group – will deliver a lesson.”
Following the rally, clashes broke out between Gono Odhikar activists and JaPa supporters during a street march, leaving at least 50 people, including Gono Odhikar Secretary General Rashed Khan, injured. Several JaPa leaders and activists were also hurt.
Later, when Gono Odhikar attempted to stage a torch procession, law enforcement intervened and blocked the programme. Police and army personnel baton-charged Nur and his followers as they gathered outside their office for a press briefing, injuring more activists.
Explaining the hostility toward JaPa, Gono Odhikar media coordinator and higher council member Abu Hanif told The Business Standard, “We have no conflict with JaPa outside politics. But from the beginning, we have said JaPa was one of Awami League’s key collaborators in fascism. The government has spared them, and we fear this could pave the way for Awami League’s rehabilitation. Protecting JaPa is part of India’s design to bring Awami League back.”
JaPa Secretary General Shamim Haider Patwary dismissed the allegations. “We have no enmity with Gono Odhikar. We believe they are being used as a proxy to pursue another agenda against JaPa. As a registered political party, JaPa has the right to operate freely in politics.”
Condemning the attack on his party’s office, Patwary added, “We expect the interim government to stop such mob actions. These incidents are a dangerous signal for the future of politics.”
JaPa has long been seen as an Awami League ally. Its leaders occasionally held cabinet posts.
History of hostility
On 8 October 2024, at a dialogue with the interim government, Gono Odhikar General Secretary Rashed Khan urged that JaPa not be invited, calling it the “National Disgrace Party.” He said, “JaPa is guilty of the same crimes as Awami League. If the Awami League can’t do politics, neither can JaPa.”
On 31 October 2024, a group attacked and set fire to JaPa’s central office in Kakrail, sparking clashes. Protesters vandalised a mural of former president Ershad and painted “National Toilet” on the walls.
On 8 November 2024, JaPa and Gono Odhikar held counter-programmes in Rangpur. At the Gono Odhikar rally, Nurul Haque Nur said, “In post-uprising Bangladesh, there will be no place for Awami League or its collaborators.”
At the JaPa gathering, co-chairman and former Rangpur City mayor Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa called Gono Odhikar a “parasitic party” built under Nur’s leadership.
On 14 December 2024, Rashed Khan accused JaPa activists of being “disguised Awami Leaguers,” saying, “Awami League, dressed as JaPa, is trying to return to politics.”
On 11 May 2025, at a press conference, Gono Odhikar demanded cancellation of JaPa’s registration. Rashed Khan said, “We welcomed the government’s decision to ban Awami League. Now we demand deregistration of its ally, JaPa.”
On 12 May 2025, a Gono Odhikar delegation submitted a written petition to the Chief Election Commissioner seeking deregistration of Awami League, JaPa, and the 14-party alliance.
On 31 May 2025, Barishal Gono Odhikar Senior Vice President Shafiqul Islam Sagar filed a case against GM Quader, Mujibul Haque Chunnu, and 280 others for allegedly attacking Gono Odhikar activists. That night, JaPa’s Barishal offices were vandalised, with the party blaming Gono Odhikar.
On 28 July 2025, in a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner, Rashed Khan demanded a ban on political activity and suspension of registration for JaPa and all partners of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance, seeking to bar them from the upcoming election.
On 15 August 2025, speaking at a rally in Brahmanbaria, Nur said, “The 14-party allies kept Awami League’s fascism alive. JaPa was one of them. Even after AL’s ban, JaPa’s arrogance continues. We urge the interim government to ban JaPa’s activities. Ahead of the next national election, all Awami League allies, including JaPa, must face final prohibition.”