Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rab) faced a split as a group of leaders of the party, led by its general secretary Abdul Malek Ratan, yesterday announced to hold a convention on January 11 boycotting the council convened by its president ASM Abdur Rab for December 28. "We think the council convened by another group of the party on December 28 is not lawful. That's why we've taken an initiative to ensure the internal democracy of the party through a convention on January 11 by boycotting the undemocratic and illegal council," said Ratan.

He came up with the announcement at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club. Ratan said the faction, led by him, is the main JSD while the other faction, led by Rab, has joined hands with the anti-liberation forces. He blamed the split in the party on Rab's undemocratic attitude. Ratan who himself contested the 11th parliamentary election with BNP's election symbol 'Sheaf of Paddy' as a candidate of Jatiya Oikyafront in Cumilla-4 seat, questioned making alliance with BNP by Rab.