Jatiya Party Secretary General Shamim Haider Patwary has said that it is now the responsibility of BNP to safeguard the Jatiya Party in the interest of democracy.
He noted that while many have called for banning the Jatiya Party, such demands have largely subsided. “We thank BNP for not falling into that trap,” he said.

Shamim warned that if the Jatiya Party were banned while restrictions also remained on the Awami League, the electoral field would be reduced to three dominant players—reshaping seat negotiations. “This could push BNP into becoming a political puppet,” he argued, adding that smaller parties would then demand more seats, threatening to boycott polls otherwise.

Calling for a necessary “cooling period” in politics, Shamim drew on the example of Ziaur Rahman, saying that after the August 21 grenade attack, there was a two-year political cooling phase. “Such a period is essential in Bangladesh today,” he stressed.