These are minister's pocket committees, party men say

The council formed party units for Godagari Pourashabha, Kakonhat Pourashabha and Godagari upazila in absence of many senior leaders.

Many party men raised protest slogans outside the venue, party sources said.

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They said formation of the committees has drawn flak from many party men as the new bodies are dominated by relatives of Post and Telecommunication Minister Aminul Haque and his loyalists.

The biannual council was called on 24 hours' notice without any preparation, they alleged while talking to newsmen later.

It was held on he premises of Godagari Girls' High School.

Sincere workers found no place in the committees, the party sources claimed.

A 'subject committee' at a 45-minute 'secret meeting' selected the key men of the three committees.

The subject committee comprised six persons including Rajshahi city Jubo Dal President Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul, its district president Tofazzal Hossain and BNP leader Altaf Hossain.

In Godagari Pourashabha committee, Rafiqul Islam, uncle of the minister, was made president and two of his relatives -- Anwarul Chowdhury and Enamul Haque -- were made general secretary and organising secretary respectively.

In the upazila committee, three close associates of the minister -- Abdul Majid, Ahmad Ali and Md Shawalwere made president, general secretary and organising secretary respectively.

In Kakonhat Pourashabha committee, Ismail Hossain, known to be loyal to the minister, was made the president.

Party men Ishaq Ali and Nurul on Wednesday evening called the council, they said.

During the council, journalists saw a group of Jatyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) workers barring "uninvited guests" from entering the venue.

Nearly one hundred senior BNP leaders and workers were seen waiting outside the gate till the end of the council as they went there without invitation.

The uninvited leaders included former president of upazila BNP Aminul Islam Panjab, Abdur Rouf, founder members Alam Bhasani and Borhan Uddin, and Jubo Dal president Hajrat Ali.

The BNP leaders and workers waiting outside raised frequent protest slogans.

Some of the speakers at the council were heard saying: He (the minister) is our sole guardian and we will support any man selected by him.

BNP leader Abdur Rouf later told newsmen that he would have been a candidate for the post of upazila BNP general secretary if he was invited.

"Cronies and smugglers are now being privileged as they can collect money", he said.

Upazila Jubo Dal President Hajrat Ali said, "It is a council of his (minister) men".

But these were refuted by Ishaque Ali, one of the council preparatory members.

"He (the minister) did the right thing by taking hard working persons in the committees", Ali said.

"The council was properly called and there is no scope to think otherwise", he said when asked why it was called hurriedly.