Dokument #1230562
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
This Response to Information Request should
be considered in conjunction with Response to Information Request
BGD23397.E of 1 April 1996, which is available at Regional
Documentation Centres.
Sources differ on the creation date of the
Janadal Party. According to Reuters, President Ershad "helped to
launch a new political party, the Janadal" in 1984 (2 Mar. 1985),
whereas Inter Press Service (IPS) reports that it was launched in
December 1983 (26 Feb. 1985). Several sources refer to the Janadal
as "General Ershad's party" (The Economist 20 July 1985; Reuters 23
Nov. 1984), while others refer to it as "government-backed" (IPS 21
Aug. 1985; AP 26 Sept. 1984) or pro-government (AP 5 Aug. 1985; The
New York Times 28 Sept. 1984).
According to Reuters and the Associated
Press (AP), Mahbubur Rahman served as secretary-general of the
Janadal Party (30 Sept. 1986; 26 Sept. 1984), although neither
source indicated the dates of his tenure. Additional names of
Janadal officials, other than those provided in the attachments to
Response to Information Request BGD23397.E, could not be found
among the sources consulted by the DIRB.
According to The Economist, the Janadal
Party won approximately 40 per cent of the contested seats in the
May 1985 local elections (20 July 1985). IPS reported that the
Janadal Party secured over half of the 460 seats for rural
administrators (1 June 1985).
According to Xinhua, the National Front was
formed in August 1985 and consisted of the Janadal (People's
Party), the United People's Party (UPP), the Democratic Party, the
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (Shah Aziz Rahman) and the Muslim
League (Siddiqui) (1 Jan. 1986). IPS states that the National Front
consisted of the "government-backed" Janadal Party, the "dissident
faction" of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the Moslem
League (Siddiqui), the United People's Party (UPP), and the
Ganotantrik Party (21 Aug. 1985), which Xinhua indicates is another
name for the Democratic Party (Xinhua 3 July 1985).
A Xinhua report of 1 January 1986 states
that the Jatiyo (National) Party was formed that same day "through
conversion of a National Front." This source also provides
information on the platform of the Jatiyo Party.
A 30 September 1986 Reuters report refers
to the Janadal Party as "now defunct."
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
The Associated Press (AP). 5 August
1985. AM Cycle. "Thirteen Injured in Bombings at Courthouse."
(NEXIS)
_____. 26 September 1984. AM Cycle.
Stephen R. Wilson. "Dozens Arrested On Eve of Strike." (NEXIS)
The Economist. 20 July 1985. "Progress
in Bangladesh Means Not Going Backwards." (NEXIS)
Inter Press Service (IPS). 21 August
1985. Tabibul Islam. "Bangladesh: Progovernment Parties to Form
Front." (NEXIS)
_____. 1 June 1985. Tabibul Islam.
"Bangladesh: Ershad Gains in Local Elections." (NEXIS)
_____. 26 February 1985. Tabibul Islam.
"Bangladesh: President and Opposition Face Off Over Elections."
(NEXIS)
The New York Times. 28 September 1984.
Late City Final Edition. "Around the World; 5 Die in Bangladesh
During Political Strife." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 30 September 1986. PM Cycle.
"Ershad Names Fired Minister as Special Adviser." (NEXIS)
_____. 2 March 1985. AM Cycle. Atiqul
Alam. "Many Opposition Politicians..." (NEXIS)
_____. 23 November 1984. PM Cycle.
Atiqul Alam. "Ershad to Extend His Tenure as Army Chief."
(NEXIS)
The Xinhua General Overseas News
Service. 1 January 1986. "New Government-Backed Party Formed in
Bangladesh." (NEXIS)
_____. 3 July 1985. "Bangladesh Cabinet
Expanded." (NEXIS)
Attachment
The Xinhua General Overseas News
Service. 1 January 1986. "New Government-Backed Party Formed in
Bangladesh." (NEXIS)
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