Formation of new BNP body triggers factional clash in Rajshahi

The division in local BNP widened with announcement of the committee making Saleh Uddin Baby its president and Mustafa, a lawmaker from Puthia-Durgapur upazilas general secretary.

Earlier, Minu was chosen to be the president of the committee at a meeting on Thursday where BNP first joint secretary Tarique Rahman was present. But later he was dropped.

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District BNP president Azizur Rahman and Jubo Dal leader Ashik Iqbal were injured in the clash. District BNP vice president SM Altaf Hossain allegedly fired three gunshots during the clash.

A faction of BNP led by Charghat municipal chairman Zakirul Islam declared the district BNP president as persona non grata for going against Altaf, a supporter of Rajshahi city Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu MP.

"The committee of Baby and Mustafa was a central decision as chaos was created in the city over the committee of Minu and Mustafa", said a top BNP leader.

BNP insiders told this correspondent Minu (who was widely criticised for his single-handed tyrannical control over partymen for the last one decade) was cornered with the formation of the new committee and vowed to protect his image.

"And so Minu embraced his intra party foe Kabir Hossain MP", said a BNP leader. Minu honoured Kabir by making him chief guest at a function at Rajshahi City Corporation on Monday. Earlier, Minu was scheduled to attend it as chief guest.

About 50 followers of Minu brought out a procession and chanted slogans against the new committee on Sunday. The processionists who include district BNP senior vice president SM Altaf Hossain, city Jubo Dal general secretary Aslam Sarker and city Chhatra Dal president Abul Kalam Azad demanded cancellation of the committee.