JSS Will Not Participate in the Election

The regional political organization of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (JSS), will not participate in the national parliamentary election scheduled to be held on February 12. Earlier, there had been speculation that the organization would field candidates in the Rangamati and Bandarban constituencies. However, a decision not to nominate any candidates for the election was taken at the latest election-related meeting of the central committee, JSS Publicity and Publications Secretary Sajib Chakma said on Saturday.

Party sources said that many leaders and activists were interested in contesting the election in the three parliamentary constituencies of the three hill districts—Bandarban, Rangamati, and Khagrachhari. However, at the central level, top leaders were indecisive about participating in the election. In this regard, opinions of activists and supporters were taken indirectly. Most activists and supporters expressed opinions in favor of not fielding candidates.

Their argument in favor of not nominating candidates is that there are doubts about whether an acceptable and fair election will ultimately be held. In particular, past experiences of elections in the hill tracts have not been very reassuring. Creating an environment for a transparent, neutral, and acceptable election like that in the plains is difficult in these areas. Evaluating these opinions of supporters, the central leaders decided in favor of not fielding candidates in the election.

When asked whether JSS would support any political party or independent candidate, Publicity and Publications Secretary Sajib Chakma said that there is no party decision on the matter at present. Depending on the situation, the party may consider it later.

On December 2, at a rally organized in Rangamati to mark the anniversary of the Hill Tracts Accord, JSS Central Vice President Ushatan Talukder had mentioned the possibility of participating in the election. Prior to this announcement, the party’s Central Joint Secretary K. S. Mong Marma had carried out campaign activities as a potential candidate in the Bandarban (300) constituency. Similarly, internal campaigning had taken place in favor of former Member of Parliament Ushatan Talukder in the Rangamati (299) constituency. There was uncertainty regarding candidacy in the Khagrachhari (298) constituency.