Old-young rift in Rangpur AL

This has enthused young faces and frustrated the elders, party sources claimed talking to this correspondent.

In the wake dull party activities, AL Central Executive Committee recently asked district unit leaders to form new committees at all upazilas and towns by June 15.

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Party sources said, the AL high command has decided to dissolve the district committee and a new convening committee is now awaiting approval of party president Sheikh Hasina.

Most of the elders in the party do not welcome the move, they claimed. Rather, at places, they are creating obstruction in formation of new units.

Meanwhile the district committee has dissolved the party's city and Sadar upzila units.

On May 31, Awami League General Secretary Abdul Zalil approved a convening committee for the Sadar upzila. Since then, a group led by central committee member Sharfuddin Ahmed Zhoru, district unit secretary Elias Ahmad and organizing secretary Delawar Hossen Talukder is opposing the proposed committee, the sources said.

"They are pleading for another committee with their favourites and are throwing counter-programmes at every level", said district AL president Sha Abdur Razzak.

On Friday, two rival groups called a ward council at Rangpur Railway intersection. Apprehending clash, the district administration clamped Section 144 at the venue.

At a press briefing at the district AL office yesterday, Eleas Ahmed said that some of the district leaders convinced General Secretary Abdul Zalil to approve a new committee for the Sadar upazila.

"The district unit does not want dissolution of the city and Sadar upazila committees. A number of leaders formed the convening committees."

On the other hand, Sha Abdur Razzak claimed that the convening committees have been formed as per party constitution. Forty-seven district committee members out of 60 voted for it at a meeting held on March 10, he said.

Young leaders have been included in these committees at the instruction of some central leaders, he said.