JSD Inu faction splits

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), led by information minister Hasanul Haq Inu, has split into two factions.

A group of JSD leaders walked out of the party’s council session on Saturday night and later announced formation of a new committee.

Sharif Nurul Ambia was named president while Nazmul Haque Prodhan general secretary. Mayeenuddin Khan Badal was made executive president of the new faction of JSD.

The announcement came at a press conference at the National Press Club on Saturday night.
Four out of six of JSD’s members of parliament (MPs) were present during the press briefing.
Nazmul Haque Prodhan confirmed the formation of the new faction of JSD to Prothom Alo.

Sources in the party said the party split as Inu and Shirin Akhter were declared elected as the party’s president and the general secretary respectively by voice vote during the council session. Thus, the demand raised by a group of party leaders to elect the leaders through secret ballot was ignored.

Inu could not be contacted until early Sunday for his comments on the party split.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, or national socialist party, split several times since its formation in newly independent Bangladesh.

In the early 1980s, some dissidents formed Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) breaking away from the JSD. During the Ershad regime, the party split a few times over issues of election and leadership.

Hasanul Haq Inu himself formed and led one faction of the JSD, splitting from the faction led by another senior leader ASM Abdur Rab, after merger once with the Rab-led faction.