Nilphamari politics hots up over mofiz

The rival parties' programmes were however held without any untoward incident as a strong contingent of police was on guard in the area.

At the June 6 function, Nilphamari district BNP Secretary Anisul Arefin allegedly said that the people of the district were 'mofiz' (a work used to call some one fool) because "they always do a mistake during election by not voting he right party for their development".

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Being simple-hearted, they were befooled and mad to vote for JP in 1996 and for Awami League in 2001, he had said.

Milon, hailing from Chandpur and minister-in-charge for Nlphamari district, had said in his speech that 'mofiz' was the name of his uncle and that he came to know that the word (mofiz) is used here to call some one fool.

Local political parties cashed in on these comments.

The JP at its rally Friday afternoon demanded an apology from the state minister for use of the "derogatory" word in public against Nilphamari people and threatened of hartal for noncompliance.

Speakers at the JP rally also alleged that abusive words were used at the June 6 function against its Chairman HM Ershad, a man from neighbouring Rangpur. It was held near the Smriti Amlan, a monument built in memory of martyred freedom fighters.

It was presided over by JP Poura unit President Kairat Hossen Shah and addressed by, among others, by party leader and District Chairman Samity President Shahjahan Chowdhury, central Joint Convenor Joynal Abedin, former JP lawmaker Ahsan Ahamed and Bazlar Rahman, central Organising Secretory of JP's labour front Jatiya Sramik Party.

They said State Minister for Education Ehsanul Haq Milon insulted the people of the district by calling them 'mafiz'. They said Nilphamari produced some great sons like Moshiur Rahman Jadu Mia, Kazi Abdul Kader, Dabiruddin Ahmed and Khairat Hossein. None has the right to insult the people of Nilphamari, glorified by so renowned national leaders, they said.

They demanded an apology from the state minister. Otherwise, a hartal will be called.

During the Jatyo Party rally, a big JCD procession crossed the area but no untoward incident took place as police maintained tight security.

The JCD rally held in front of BNP office was presided over by its district unit president Kazi Akhtaruzzamn Jewel and addressed by, among others, JCD leaders Morshed Azam, AKM Habibur Rahman, Mukhtar Hossen, Sadar upazila BNP Secretary Mir Selim Farooq, JP leader new entrant to the party from JP Anisur Rahman Coco and Jatiotabadi Sramik Dal district convenor Abdur Rahman Prodhan.

They said some identified quarters are trying to malign BNP and mislead the people when the district is gong ahead on the path of development under the leadership of Engineer Shahrin Islam Tuhin.

They said the local correspondent of prestigious national daily Prothom Alo is an "Awami agent" (agent of opposition Awami League) and trying to mislead the people and defame the daily by giving distorted news to serve partisan interest.

Followers of Shaheed Zia will not sit idle if the vested quarters try to do any harm to the people of Nilphamari, they said.

Meanwhile Alamgir Sarker, National Executive Committee member of BNP from Nilphamari, has asked Nilphamari correspondents of daily Jankantho and Prothom Alo to show documents in favour of their June 8 reports that State Minister Milon used the work 'mofiz' to insult the people of Nilphamari.

He said that, total matter is supsicious and conspiracy. The state minister addressed the function on June 6 but the people present there did not react.

"Jubo League and Chattra League brought out processions and held rallies on June 9 after seeing distorted reports published in the two dailies on June 8", he said.

"Jatiya Party also staged protest on June 11 after seeing the reports", he said.

"So it is clear that it is a conspiracy".