Three Jatiya Party factions claim right to ‘plough’ election symbol

Three rival factions of the Jatiya Party (JaPa) have begun wrangling over the right to use the election symbol “plough”, amid demands to ban the party. Within less than two years, the faction led by GM Quader has seen two splits -- one under Raushon Ershad and another in August under Anisul Islam Mahmud. Both groups are now asserting that the party’s constitution gives them sole authority over the “plough”. Raushon, widow of Jatiya Party founder Hussain Muhammad Ershad, initially remained silent after breaking away before the 12th parliamentary election. Her faction now insists it is the “only legitimate claimant” to the symbol. But Secretary General Shameem Haider Patwary, from the GM Quader-led group, said no one else could be...