AL govt oppressive, corrupt but not illegal: Chunnu

Newly elected Executive Chairman of the Jatiya Party (partial) Mujibul Haque Chunnu has categorically rejected the notion of returning benefits received during his tenure as a Member of Parliament under the Awami League-led government, asserting there is "no legal scope" for such an action.

"The allegation of fascism against that government is that they tortured, harassed, indulged in corruption and theft. But it doesn't mean that the government was illegal," Chunnu told The Daily Observer in an exclusive interview. "If the government becomes illegal, then all their activities will be illegal. How shall I return the benefits as an MP? If my membership in the Parliament becomes illegal then everything will be illegal including all the laws formulated, all works done, all the processes of running the state."

Chunnu, who now one of the top leaders of a dissident faction that ousted GM Quader from leadership, admitted the party had erred ethically in joining what he described as a flawed election but maintained that participation was lawful. "Our apology is that we took part in the election that is not illegal in rules and was held in accordance with the law but many a party didn't participate. So, we could avoid it ethically. We made a mistake from the ethical sense and apologized for that."

The internal leadership dispute in Jatiya Party intensified after a court order barred GM Quader from exercising chairman's powers. In defiance, Chunnu's faction held Party's 10th National Council in Dhaka electing Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud as Chairman, Chunnu as Executive Chairman and ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader as Secretary General. The question is which faction is the real JP and which faction will participate in election with the symbol 'Plough'? 

"We just conducted council. We informed the Election Commission before the council that we are arranging council as EC Registration number 12 and our symbol Plough, our Chairman office was mentioned as well," Chunnu replied. 

"We made our senior Co-Chairman as the Acting Chairman and maximum number of presidium members sat, fixed a date for the council. So, we are the owner of the symbol Plough. We informed all the things to the EC in black and white. If the EC recognizes us then the Plough is ours," he explained.

When asked if there was a possibility of reconciliation with the GM Quader camp, he said, "If they want to join with us, they can. But the council was held and the Chairman, Secretary General, all are being elected. They now can join as a member or can be given a post except Chairman and Secretary General."

However, GM Quader's faction JP Secretary General Barrister Shamim Haider Patwary dismissed the council and its outcomes as 'illegal'. "This council is completely illegal. Their membership is not even retained. Arranging council by them might be a violation by the court. This is embarrassing too. The Jatiya Party is not at all tensed about it. We are still united under the leadership of GM Quader. The vote bank and the activists are with GM Quader," he asserted.

On prospects of unification, Patwary was unequivocal and said, "If the grassroots level leaders and activists think that unification is necessary, then we must consider that. But right now, we are not thinking anything about unification with them."