Information on the Jatiya Samajtantrik Doe (JSD) and treatment of its members [BGD16477.E]

The Jatiya Samajtantrik Doe (JSD) or national Socialist Party, originated as a "scientific socialist" faction within the Awami League in 1972 (Political Handbook of the World: 1992 1992, 61). The group was initially led by A.S.M. Abdul Rab and Shajahan Siraj (ibid.). Many of the party's leaders were arrested following President Zia's assumption of power in the mid 1970s, but the party was reinstated as a legal entity in 1978 (ibid.). The party was a prominent member of the 15-party coalition led by the Awami League between 1983 and 1985 (ibid.).

Following the assumption of power by Hussain Mohammed Ershad in 1984, the JSD split into the JSD-R and the JSD-S; each faction being led by one of the party's founders (Political Parties of the World 1988, 42-3). In 1986, four JSD-R candidates and three JSD-S candidates were elected to the national parliament (ibid.). The parliamentary elections of 1991 saw the election of only one JSD-S candidate (Keesing's Feb. 1991, 38007). No JSD-R candidates were elected in 1991 (ibid.).

In July 1992, it was reported that eleven political parties including the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal formed a committee to mobilize public opinion against " U.S. action" in Cuba and to collect materials in aid of the Cuban people (Xinhua 16 July 1992). According to the Middle East News Network a faction of the JSD, the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Khaleq, won one out of eighty-seven chairmanships in municipal corporation elections held in February 1993 (4 Feb. 1993). There are currently 5,000 JSD-SIRAJ members (Europa 1993 1993, 461).

Information concerning specific treatment of JSD members is currently unavailable to the DIRB.

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 Europa World Yearbook 1993. 1993. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications Ltd.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. February 1991. Vol. 37, No. 2. "Bangladesh: General Elections."

Middle East News Network. 4 February 1993. "BNP Leads." (NEXIS)

Political Handbook of the World: 1992. 1992. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Political Parties of the World. 1988. 3rd ed. Edited by Alan J. Day. Chicago: St. James Press.

The Xinhua General Overseas News Service. 16 July 1992. "11 Bangladesh Parties Support Cuba in Struggle Against U.S." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. February 1991. Vol. 37, No. 2. "Bangladesh: General Elections," pp.38006-7.

Middle East News Network. 4 February 1993. "BNP Leads." (NEXIS)

Political Handbook of the World: 1992. 1992. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications, p. 61.

Political Parties of the World. 1988. 3rd ed. Edited by Alan J. Day. Chicago: St. James Press, pp. 41-2.

The Xinhua General Overseas News Service. 16 July 1992. "11 Bangladesh Parties Support Cuba in Struggle Against U.S." (NEXIS)