Rival BNP factions hold separate conventions in Raozan

There was no untoward incident as police were deployed.

Sources said that on the previous night, tension was created in the upazila as activists belonging to the factions reportedly fired several hundred shots and threatened their rivals.

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The faction led by Golam Akber Khondoker held its convention Nizam Uddin Public Hall. Khandoker, president of Chittagong (north) district BNP, was the chief guest.

The other faction led by Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury held its convention at Raozan College ground at the same time. Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, parliamentary affairs advisor to the Prime Minister, attended the convention as chief guest. Giasuddin, central BNP secretary for industrial affairs, was special guest.

BNP central committee had approved holding of the convention by the Khondoker-led faction, party source said.

Addressing the convention, Khondoker called upon the party men to strengthen the organization through abiding by chain of command. Chittagong (north) district BNP general secretary Shahjahan Siraj, joint-secretary Nurul Amin also spoke. Raozan thana BNP president Mohiuddin Ahmed was in the chair.

Later, the Khondoker-led faction held a biennial council which formed a new Raozan thana BNP executive committee with MA Halim and Nazim Uddin Chowdhury as its president and general secretary respectively. It also formed Raozan Poura BNP executive committee with Sekander Chowdhury and Quazi Abdullah Hasan as president and general secretary respectively.

Details of the convention of the Giasuddin-led faction could not be known.